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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 5103 | Placement of Children

 
 
 
Section
Section 5103.02 | Placement of children definitions.
 

As used in sections 5103.03 to 5103.181 of the Revised Code:

(A)(1) "Association" or "institution" includes all of the following:

(a) Any incorporated or unincorporated organization, society, association, or agency, public or private, that receives or cares for children for two or more consecutive weeks;

(b) Any individual, including the operator of a foster home, who, for hire, gain, or reward, receives or cares for children for two or more consecutive weeks, unless the individual is related to them by blood or marriage;

(c) Any individual not in the regular employ of a court, or of an institution or association certified in accordance with section 5103.03 of the Revised Code, who in any manner becomes a party to the placing of children in foster homes, unless the individual is related to such children by blood or marriage or is the appointed guardian of such children.

(2) "Association" or "institution" does not include any of the following:

(a) Any organization, society, association, school, agency, child guidance center, detention or rehabilitation facility, or children's clinic licensed, regulated, approved, operated under the direction of, or otherwise certified by the department of education and workforce, a local board of education, the department of youth services, the department of mental health and addiction services, or the department of developmental disabilities;

(b) Any individual who provides care for only a single-family group, placed there by their parents or other relative having custody;

(c) A private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp;

(d) A qualified organization as defined in section 2151.90 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Family foster home" means a foster home that is not a specialized foster home.

(C) "Foster caregiver" means a person holding a valid foster home certificate issued under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Foster home" means a private residence in which children are received apart from their parents, guardian, or legal custodian, by an individual reimbursed for providing the children nonsecure care, supervision, or training twenty-four hours a day. "Foster home" does not include care provided for a child in the home of a person other than the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian while the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is temporarily away. Family foster homes and specialized foster homes are types of foster homes.

(E) "Kinship caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5101.85 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Medically fragile foster home" means a foster home that provides specialized medical services designed to meet the needs of children with intensive health care needs who meet all of the following criteria:

(1) Under rules adopted by the medicaid director governing medicaid payments for long-term care services, the children require a skilled level of care.

(2) The children require the services of a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine at least once a week due to the instability of their medical conditions.

(3) The children require the services of a registered nurse on a daily basis.

(4) The children are at risk of institutionalization in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

(G) "Private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp" means a structured, alternative residential setting for children who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, moral, social, or learning difficulties at home or school in which all of the following are the case:

(1) The children spend the majority of their time, including overnight, either outdoors or in a primitive structure.

(2) The children have been placed there by their parents or another relative having custody.

(3) The camp accepts no public funds for use in its operations.

(H) "Recommending agency" means a public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency that recommends that the department of job and family services take any of the following actions under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code regarding a foster home:

(1) Issue a certificate;

(2) Deny a certificate;

(3) Revoke a certificate.

(I) "Resource caregiver" means a foster caregiver or a kinship caregiver.

(J) "Resource family" means a foster home or the kinship caregiver family.

(K) "Specialized foster home" means a medically fragile foster home or a treatment foster home.

(L) "Treatment foster home" means a foster home that incorporates special rehabilitative services designed to treat the specific needs of the children received in the foster home and that receives and cares for children who are emotionally or behaviorally disturbed, who are chemically dependent, who have developmental disabilities, or who otherwise have exceptional needs.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 4:07 PM

Section 5103.021 | Scholars residential centers.
 

(A) As used in this section, a "scholars residential center" is a center that meets all of the following:

(1) The center is a certified affiliate in good standing of a national organization with a mission to help underserved children in middle school and high school in a comprehensive manner that is academically focused and service-oriented and in a family-like setting.

(2) The center is private and not-for-profit.

(3) The center does not receive Title IV-E funding or any associated Title IV funds related to child welfare.

(4) The center only accepts children placed by their parents or legal custodian.

(5) The center is voluntary and uses a competitive selection process.

(B) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement standards regarding a scholars residential center. The rules shall be substantially similar, as determined by the director, to other similarly situated providers of residential care for children, including rules provided in Chapters 5101:2-5 and 5101:2-9 of the Administrative Code, except that the rules shall reflect all of the following:

(1) A center is not subject to any policy that is not specific or relevant to the center.

(2) A center is not required to provide discharge summaries.

(3) A center is permitted to request agency waivers.

(4) A center is not required to implement case plans or service plans.

(5) Training requirements for center staff are limited to completion of all of the following:

(a) Orientation training;

(b) Current American red cross, American heart association, or equivalent first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification;

(c) One hour of annual trauma training.

(6) A center is not subject to existing rules regarding:

(a) Recreation and leisure activity requirements, provided that the center has a recreation area available and permits children to swim if a person who has completed life-saving or water safety training is present;

(b) Visiting and communications policies, provided that the center ensures that children have contact with their family;

(c) Qualified residential treatment program requirements;

(d) Treatment-focused requirements established for residential agencies.

(7) A center shall provide notification and documentation of critical incidents to parents and legal custodians.

(C) The director shall certify a scholars residential center that submits an application to the director, on a form prescribed by the director, that indicates to the director's satisfaction that the center meets the standards set forth in rules adopted under division (B) of this section.

Last updated October 4, 2023 at 1:45 PM

Section 5103.03 | Rules for adequate and competent management of institutions or associations.
 

(A) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules as necessary for the adequate and competent management and certification of institutions or associations. The director shall ensure that foster care home study rules adopted under this section align any home study content, time period, and process with any home study content, time period, and process required by rules adopted under section 3107.033 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except for facilities under the control of the department of youth services, places of detention for children established and maintained pursuant to sections 2152.41 to 2152.44 of the Revised Code, and child care centers subject to Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services shall pass upon the fitness of every institution and association that receives, or desires to receive and care for children, or places children in private homes, at a frequency established by rules adopted under division (A) of this section.

(2) When the department of job and family services is satisfied as to the care given such children, and that the requirements of the statutes and rules covering the management of such institutions and associations are being complied with, it shall issue to the institution or association a certificate to that effect. A certificate is valid for a length of time determined by rules adopted under division (A) of this section. When determining whether an institution or association meets a particular requirement for certification, the department may consider the institution or association to have met the requirement if the institution or association shows to the department's satisfaction that it has met a comparable requirement to be accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation organization.

(3) The department may issue a temporary certificate valid for less than one year authorizing an institution or association to operate until minimum requirements have been met.

(4) An institution or association that knowingly makes a false statement that is included as a part of certification under this section is guilty of the offense of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and the department shall not certify that institution or association.

(5) The department shall not issue a certificate to a prospective foster home or prospective specialized foster home pursuant to this section if the prospective foster home or prospective specialized foster home operates as a type A family child care home pursuant to Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code. The department shall not issue a certificate to a prospective specialized foster home if the prospective specialized foster home operates a type B family child care home pursuant to Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code.

(C) The department may revoke a certificate pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if it finds that the institution or association is in violation of law or rule. No juvenile court shall commit a child to an association or institution that is required to be certified under this section if its certificate has been revoked or, if after revocation, the date of reissue is less than fifteen months prior to the proposed commitment.

(D) On a frequency specified by the department by rules adopted under division (A) of this section, each institution or association desiring certification shall submit to the department a report showing its condition, management, competency to care adequately for the children who have been or may be committed to it or to whom it provides care or services, the system of visitation it employs for children placed in private homes, and other information the department requires.

(E) The department shall, not less than once each year, send a list of certified institutions and associations to each juvenile court and certified association or institution.

(F) No person shall receive children or receive or solicit money on behalf of such an institution or association not so certified or whose certificate has been revoked.

(G)(1) The director may delegate by rule any duties imposed on it by this section to inspect and approve family foster homes and specialized foster homes to public children services agencies, private child placing agencies, or private noncustodial agencies.

(2) The director shall adopt rules that require a foster caregiver or other individual certified to operate a foster home under this section to notify the recommending agency that the foster caregiver or other individual is licensed to operate a type B family child care home under Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code.

(H) If the director of job and family services determines that an institution or association that cares for children is operating without a certificate, the director may petition the court of common pleas in the county in which the institution or association is located for an order enjoining its operation. The court shall grant injunctive relief upon a showing that the institution or association is operating without a certificate.

(I) If both of the following are the case, the director of job and family services may petition the court of common pleas of any county in which an institution or association that holds a certificate under this section operates for an order, and the court may issue an order, preventing the institution or association from receiving additional children into its care or an order removing children from its care:

(1) The department has evidence that the life, health, or safety of one or more children in the care of the institution or association is at imminent risk.

(2) The department has issued a proposed adjudication order pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to revoke the certificate of the institution or association.

Last updated August 23, 2023 at 9:38 AM

Section 5103.031 | Preplacement training.
 

Except as provided in section 5103.033 of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services may not issue a certificate under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code to a foster home unless the prospective foster caregiver successfully completes preplacement training through a preplacement training program approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code or preplacement training provided under division (B) of section 5103.30 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:13 AM

Section 5103.032 | Continuing training.
 

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section and in section 5103.033 of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services may revoke a foster home certificate under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code if the foster caregiver fails to successfully complete continuing training in accordance with the foster caregiver's needs assessment and continuing training plan developed and implemented under section 5103.035 of the Revised Code.

(B) A foster caregiver shall be given an additional amount of time within which the foster caregiver must complete the continuing training required under division (A) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the department of job and family services if either of the following applies:

(1) The foster caregiver has served in active duty outside this state with a branch of the armed forces of the United States for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period.

(2) The foster caregiver has served in active duty as a member of the Ohio organized militia, as defined in section 5923.01 of the Revised Code, for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period and that active duty relates to either an emergency in or outside of this state or to military duty in or outside of this state.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 3:36 PM

Section 5103.033 | Training required where child was less than six months of age at time of temporary custody agreement.
 

(A) The department of job and family services may issue a certificate under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code to a foster home for the care of a child who is in the custody of a public children services agency or private child placing agency pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 5103.15 of the Revised Code regarding a child who was less than six months of age on the date the agreement was executed if the prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver successfully completes the following:

(1) A preplacement training program approved under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code or a program provided under division (B) of section 5103.30 of the Revised Code;

(2) Continuing training in accordance with the foster caregiver's needs assessment and continuing training plan developed and implemented under section 5103.035 of the Revised Code.

(B) A foster caregiver to whom either division (B)(1) or (2) of this section applies shall be given an additional amount of time within which to complete the continuing training required under division (A)(2) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the department of job and family services:

(1) The foster caregiver has served in active duty outside this state with a branch of the armed forces of the United States for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period.

(2) The foster caregiver has served in active duty as a member of the Ohio organized militia, as defined in section 5923.01 of the Revised Code, for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period and that active duty relates to either an emergency in or outside of this state or to military duty in or outside of this state.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 1:10 PM

Section 5103.034 | Making training programs available.
 

(A) Private child placing agencies and private noncustodial agencies operating a preplacement or continuing training program approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code shall make the program available to a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver without regard to the type of recommending agency from which the prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver seeks a recommendation.

(B) A private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency operating a preplacement or continuing training program approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code may condition the enrollment of a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver in the program on either or both of the following:

(1) Availability of space in the training program;

(2) Payment of an instruction or registration fee, if any, by the prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver's recommending agency.

(C) A private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency operating a preplacement or continuing training program approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code may contract with a person or governmental entity to administer the program.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:22 AM

Section 5103.035 | Needs assessment and continuing training plan.
 

A public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency acting as a recommending agency for a foster caregiver shall develop and implement a written needs assessment and continuing training plan for the foster caregiver in accordance with rules adopted under section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code.

Section 5103.036 | Accepting training from other programs.
 

(A) For the purpose of determining whether a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver has satisfied the requirement of section 5103.031 or 5103.032 of the Revised Code, a recommending agency shall accept training obtained from either of the following:

(1) Any preplacement or continuing training program approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code;

(2) The Ohio child welfare training program pursuant to divisions (B) and (C) of section 5103.30 of the Revised Code.

(B) A recommending agency may require that a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver successfully complete additional training as a condition of the agency recommending that the department of job and family services certify the prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver's foster home under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 3:28 PM

Section 5103.037 | Appointment of board president, administrator, or officer.
 

(A) Prior to employing or appointing a person as board president, or as an administrator or officer, an institution or association shall do the following regarding the person:

(1) Request a summary report of a search of the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system in accordance with divisions (A) and (B) of section 5103.18 of the Revised Code;

(2) Request a certified search of the findings for recovery database;

(3) Conduct a database review at the federal web site known as the system for award management;

(4) Conduct a search of the United States department of justice national sex offender public web site.

(B) The institution or association may refuse to hire or appoint a person as board president, or as an administrator or officer as follows:

(1) Based solely on the findings of the summary report described in division (B)(1)(a) of section 5103.18 of the Revised Code or the results of the search described in division (A)(4) of this section;

(2) Based on the results of a certified search or database review described in division (A)(2) or (3) of this section, when considered within the totality of circumstances.

(C) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for the implementation and execution of this section.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:23 AM

Section 5103.038 | Agencies submitting proposals for programs.
 

(A) Every other year by a date specified in rules adopted under section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code, each private child placing agency and private noncustodial agency that seeks to operate a preplacement training program or continuing training program under section 5103.034 of the Revised Code shall submit to the department of job and family services a proposal outlining the program. The proposal may be the same as, a modification of, or different from, a model design developed by the department.

(B) Not later than thirty days after receiving a proposal under division (A) of this section, the department shall either approve or disapprove the proposed program. The department shall approve a proposed preplacement training program if it complies with rules adopted under section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code, as appropriate, and, in the case of a proposal submitted by an agency operating a preplacement training program at the time the proposal is submitted, the department is satisfied with the agency's operation of the program. The department shall approve a proposed continuing training program if it complies with rules adopted under section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code and, in the case of a proposal submitted by an agency operating a continuing training program at the time the proposal is submitted, the department is satisfied with the agency's operation of the program. If the department disapproves a proposal, it shall provide the reason for disapproval to the agency that submitted the proposal and advise the agency of how to revise the proposal so that the department can approve it.

(C) The department's approval under division (B) of this section of a proposed preplacement training program or continuing training program is valid only for two years following the year the proposal for the program is submitted to the department under division (A) of this section.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:26 AM

Section 5103.0310 | Background checks.
 

(A) Prior to employing a person or engaging a subcontractor, intern, or volunteer, an institution or association, as defined in division (A)(1)(a) of section 5103.02 of the Revised Code, that is a residential facility, as defined in division (A)(6) of section 5103.05 of the Revised Code, shall do the following regarding the person, subcontractor, intern, or volunteer:

(1) Obtain a search of the United States department of justice national sex offender public web site regarding the person;

(2) Obtain a summary report of a search of the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system in accordance with divisions (A) and (B) of section 5103.18 of the Revised Code.

(B) An institution or association, as defined in division (A)(1)(a) of section 5103.02 of the Revised Code, that is not a residential facility, as defined in division (A)(6) of section 5103.05 of the Revised Code, shall obtain the search and summary report described in division (A) of this section before hiring a person, or engaging a subcontractor, intern, or volunteer, who will have access to children.

(C) If, at the time of the effective date of this amendment, the institution or association has not obtained a report required under division (A) or (B) of this section for the person, subcontractor, intern, or volunteer, the institution or association shall obtain the report.

(D) The institution or association may refuse to employ the person or engage the subcontractor, intern, or volunteer based solely on the results of the search described in division (A)(1) or (B) of this section or the findings of the summary report described in division (B)(1)(a) of section 5103.18 of the Revised Code.

(E) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for the implementation and execution of this section.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:15 AM

Section 5103.0312 | Reimbursement of caregivers for training courses.
 

A public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency acting as a recommending agency for a foster caregiver shall reimburse the foster caregiver in a lump sum for attending a preplacement training program operated under section 5103.034 or 5103.30 of the Revised Code and shall reimburse the foster caregiver a stipend for attending a continuing training program operated under section 5103.034 or 5103.30 of the Revised Code. The amount of the lump sum reimbursement and the stipend rate shall be established by the department of job and family services and shall be the same regardless of the type of recommending agency from which the foster caregiver seeks a recommendation. The department shall, pursuant to rules adopted under section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code, reimburse the recommending agency for stipend reimbursements it makes in accordance with this section. The department shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code regarding the release of lump sum stipends to an individual for attending a preplacement training program.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 9:58 AM

Section 5103.0313 | Reimbursement of agencies for training courses.
 

Except as provided in section 5103.303 of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services shall compensate a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency for the cost of procuring or operating preplacement and continuing training programs approved by the department of job and family services under section 5103.038 of the Revised Code for prospective foster caregivers and foster caregivers who are recommended for certification by the agency.

The compensation shall be paid to the agency in the form of an allowance to reimburse the agency for the cost of training pursuant to the rules adopted by the department of job and family services in accordance with section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 12:00 PM

Section 5103.0314 | Recommending agencies ineligible for reimbursement.
 

The department of job and family services shall adopt rules regarding the compensation of a recommending agency for any training the agency requires a foster caregiver to undergo as a condition of the agency recommending the department certify the foster caregiver's foster home under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code if the training is in excess of the training required under section 5103.031 of the Revised Code.

The department of job and family services shall adopt rules regarding the compensation of a recommending agency for any training the agency requires a foster caregiver to undergo as a condition of the agency recommending the department continue certifying the foster caregiver's foster home under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code if the training is in addition to the minimum training required under section 5103.032 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 3:37 PM

Section 5103.0315 | Federal financial participation in payment of training costs.
 

The department of job and family services shall seek federal financial participation for the cost of making payments under section 5103.0312 of the Revised Code and allowances under sections 5103.0313 and 5103.303 of the Revised Code. The department shall notify the governor, president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, and minority leader of the house of representatives of any proposed federal legislation that endangers the federal financial participation.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 9:59 AM

Section 5103.0316 | Training program rules.
 

The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary for the efficient administration of sections 5103.031 to 5103.0316 of the Revised Code. The rules shall provide for all of the following:

(A) For the purpose of section 5103.038 of the Revised Code, the date by which a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency that seeks to operate a preplacement training program or continuing training program under section 5103.034 of the Revised Code must submit to the department a proposal outlining the program;

(B) Requirements governing the department's compensation of private child placing agencies and private noncustodial agencies under sections 5103.0312 and 5103.0313 of the Revised Code, including the allowance to reimburse the agencies for the cost of providing the training under sections 5103.031, 5103.032, and 5103.033 of the Revised Code;

(C) Requirements governing the continuing training required by sections 5103.032 and 5103.033 of the Revised Code;

(D) The amount of training hours necessary for preplacement training and continuing training for purposes of sections 5103.031, 5103.032, and 5103.033 of the Revised Code;

(E) Courses necessary to meet the preplacement and continuing training requirements for foster homes under sections 5103.031, 5103.032, and 5103.033 of the Revised Code;

(F) Criteria used to create a written needs assessment and continuing training plan for each foster caregiver as required by section 5103.035 of the Revised Code;

(G) The amount of preplacement and continuing training hours that may be completed online;

(H) Any other matter the department considers appropriate.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 11:20 AM

Section 5103.0317 | Limit of children in foster home.
 

The Director of Job and Family Services shall adopt rules concerning the maximum number of children a foster home may receive and any exceptions to the maximum number.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:10 PM

Section 5103.0318 | Applicability of zoning laws.
 

Any certified foster home shall be considered to be a residential use of property for purposes of municipal, county, and township zoning and shall be a permitted use in all zoning districts in which residential uses are permitted. No municipal, county, or township zoning regulation shall require a conditional permit or any other special exception certification for any certified foster home.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 5103.0319 | Notification of conviction of certain offenses by foster child.
 

(A) No foster caregiver or prospective foster caregiver shall fail to notify the recommending agency that recommended or is recommending the foster caregiver or prospective foster caregiver for certification in writing if a person at least twelve years of age but less than eighteen years of age residing with the foster caregiver or prospective foster caregiver has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following or has been adjudicated to be a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would have constituted such a violation:

(1) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923,13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, a violation of section 2923.01 of the Revised Code that involved an attempt to commit aggravated murder or murder, an OVI or OVUAC violation if the person previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more OVI or OVUAC violations within the three years immediately preceding the current violation, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;

(2) An offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult and the court determined that the child, if an adult, would be guilty of a specification found in section 2941.141, 2941.144, or 2941.145 of the Revised Code or in another section of the Revised Code that relates to the possession or use of a firearm, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, during the commission of the act for which the child was adjudicated a delinquent child;

(3) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(B) If a recommending agency learns that a foster caregiver has failed to comply with division (A) of this section, it shall notify the department of job and family services and the department shall revoke the foster caregiver's foster home certificate.

(C) As used in this section, "OVI or OVUAC violation" means a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:14 PM

Section 5103.0320 | Denying certificate based on misconduct of resident.
 

The department of job and family services may deny a foster home certificate on the grounds that a person at least twelve years of age but less than eighteen years of age residing with the foster caregiver or prospective foster caregiver has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense described in division (A) of section 5103.0319 of the Revised Code or has been adjudicated to be a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would have constituted such an offense.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:23 PM

Section 5103.0321 | Duties of agency upon notice of conviction of certain offense by foster child.
 

On receipt of notice under section 5103.0319 of the Revised Code, the recommending agency shall do all of the following:

(A) Review the foster caregiver's foster home certificate. After review, the agency may recommend that the department of job and family services revoke the certificate.

(B) Review the placement in the foster home of any child of whom the agency has temporary, legal, or permanent custody. After review, the agency may, consistent with any juvenile court order, remove the child from the foster home in which the child is residing and place the child in another certified foster home.

(C) If the agency does not have temporary, legal, or permanent custody of a foster child residing in the foster home, notify the entity that has custody that it has received a notice under section 5103.0319 of the Revised Code.

(D) Assess the foster caregiver's need for training because of the conviction, plea of guilty, or adjudication described in section 5103.0319 of the Revised Code and provide any necessary training.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:25 PM

Section 5103.0322 | Notice to applicant or certificate holder of decisions.
 

On receipt of a recommendation from a public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency regarding an application for a family foster home or treatment foster home certification under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services shall decide whether to issue the certificate. The department shall notify the agency and the applicant of its decision. If the department's decision is different from the recommendation of the agency, the department shall state in the notice the reason that the decision is different from the recommendation.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 1:12 PM

Section 5103.0323 | Audit prior to renewal of certificate.
 

(A) As used in this section, "American institute of certified public accountants auditing standards" and "AICPA auditing standards" mean the auditing standards published by the American institute of certified public accountants.

(B) Not later than two years after the date of certification, and at least every two years thereafter, a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency shall provide the department of job and family services evidence of an independent financial statement audit performed by a licensed public accounting firm following applicable AICPA auditing standards for the two most recent fiscal years.

(C) The independent audits must demonstrate that the agency operated in a fiscally accountable manner as determined by the department of job and family services.

(D) The director of job and family services may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. The director shall adopt the rules in accordance with section 119.03 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 3:33 PM

Section 5103.0324 | Assessor to conduct home study.
 

A public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency to which the duty to inspect and approve a family foster home or treatment foster home has been delegated under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code shall provide for an assessor who meets the requirements of section 3107.014 of the Revised Code to conduct a home study of the home.

Section 5103.0325 | Review of rules for agency visits.
 

Notwithstanding section 106.03 of the Revised Code, the department of job and family services shall review once every two years the department's rules governing visits and contacts by a public children services agency or private child placing agency with a child in the agency's custody and placed in foster care in this state. The department shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to ensure compliance with the department's rules governing agency visits and contacts with a child in its custody.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:31 PM

Section 5103.0326 | Nonrenewals based on refusals to accept children.
 

(A) A recommending agency may recommend that the department of job and family services revoke a foster home certificate under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code if the foster caregiver refused to accept the placement of any children into the foster home during the preceding twelve months. Based on the agency's recommendation, the department may revoke a foster home certificate pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of job and family services may revoke, pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the certification of any foster caregiver who has not cared for one or more foster children in the foster caregiver's home within the preceding twelve months. Prior to the revocation of any certification pursuant to this division, the recommending agency shall have the opportunity to provide good cause for the department to continue the certification and not revoke the certification. If the department decides to revoke the certification, the department shall notify the recommending agency that the certification will be revoked.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 3:26 PM

Section 5103.0327 | Physical examinations.
 

Any physical examination required in the determination of foster home placement may be conducted by any individual authorized by the Revised Code to conduct physical examinations, including a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife. Any written documentation of the physical examination shall be completed by the individual who conducted the examination.

Section 5103.0328 | Notice of arrest or conviction of foster caregiver.
 

(A) Not later than ninety-six hours after receiving notice from the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to section 109.5721 of the Revised Code that a foster caregiver has been arrested for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to any foster caregiver-disqualifying offense, and not later than ninety-six hours after learning in any other manner that a foster caregiver has been arrested for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty to any foster caregiver-disqualifying offense, the department of job and family services shall provide notice of that arrest, conviction, or guilty plea to both the recommending agency relative to the foster caregiver and the custodial agency of any child currently placed with that caregiver.

(B) If a recommending agency receives notice from the department of job and family services pursuant to division (A) of this section that a foster caregiver has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any foster caregiver-disqualifying offense, or if a recommending agency learns in any other manner that a foster caregiver has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any foster caregiver-disqualifying offense, the recommending agency shall assess the foster caregiver's overall situation for safety concerns and forward any recommendations, if applicable, for revoking the foster caregiver's certificate to the department for the department's review for possible revocation.

(C) As used in this section, "foster caregiver-disqualifying offense" means any offense or violation listed or described in division (C)(1) of section 2151.86 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:33 PM

Section 5103.0329 | Waiver of non-safety standards for kinship caregivers seeking foster home certification.
 

(A) A recommending agency may submit a request to the department of job and family services, on a case-by-case basis only, to waive any non-safety standards for a kinship caregiver seeking foster home certification. Non-safety standards include training hours and other requirements under sections 5103.031, 5103.032, and 5103.039 of the Revised Code and standards established by rules adopted under sections 5103.03 and 5103.0316 of the Revised Code, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 671 (a)(10).

(B) "Kinship caregiver" has the same meaning as in section 5101.85 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 12:36 PM

Section 5103.04 | Articles of incorporation to be filed with department of job and family services.
 

No association whose object embraces the care of dependent, neglected, abused, or delinquent children, or the placing of such children in private homes, shall be incorporated unless the proposed articles of incorporation have been submitted first to the department of job and family services. The secretary of state shall not issue a certificate of incorporation to such association until there is filed in the secretary of state's office the certificate of the department that it has examined the articles of incorporation, that in its judgment the incorporators are reputable and respectable persons, the proposed work is needed, and the incorporation of such association is desirable and for the public good.

Amendments proposed to the articles of incorporation of any such association shall be submitted in like manner to the department, and the secretary of state shall not record such amendment or issue a certificate therefor until there is filed in the secretary of state's office the certificate of the department that it has examined such amendment, that the association in question is performing in good faith the work undertaken by it, and that such amendment is a proper one, and for the public good.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 2:11 PM

Section 5103.05 | Notice of operation.
 

(A) As used in this section and section 5103.051 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Children's residential center" means a facility that is operated by a private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or public children services agency, that has been certified by the department of job and family services to operate a children's residential center, and in which eleven or more children, including the children of any staff residing at the facility, are given nonsecure care and supervision twenty-four hours a day.

(2) "Children's crisis care facility" has the same meaning as in section 5103.13 of the Revised Code.

(3) "County children's home" means a facility established under section 5153.21 of the Revised Code.

(4) "District children's home" means a facility established under section 5153.42 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Group home for children" means any public or private facility that is operated by a private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or public children services agency, that has been certified by the department to operate a group home for children, and that meets all of the following criteria:

(a) Gives, for compensation, a maximum of ten children, including the children of the operator or any staff who reside in the facility, nonsecure care and supervision twenty-four hours a day by a person or persons who are unrelated to the children by blood or marriage, or who is not the appointed guardian of any of the children;

(b) Is not certified as a foster home;

(c) Receives or cares for children for two or more consecutive weeks.

"Group home for children" does not include any facility that provides care for children from only a single-family group, placed at the facility by the children's parents or other relative having custody.

(6) "Residential facility" means a group home for children, children's crisis care facility, children's residential center, residential parenting facility that provides twenty-four-hour child care, county children's home, or district children's home. A foster home is not a residential facility.

(7) "Residential parenting facility" means a facility operated by a private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or public children services agency, that has been certified by the department to operate a residential parenting facility, in which teenage mothers and their children reside for the purpose of keeping mother and child together, teaching parenting and life skills to the mother, and assisting teenage mothers in obtaining educational or vocational training and skills.

(8) "Nonsecure care and supervision" means care and supervision of a child in a residential facility that does not confine or prevent movement of the child within the facility or from the facility.

(B) Within ten days after the commencement of operations at a residential facility, the facility shall provide the following to all county, municipal, or township law enforcement agencies, emergency management agencies, and fire departments with jurisdiction over the facility:

(1) Written notice that the facility is located and will be operating in the agency's or department's jurisdiction. The written notice shall provide the address of the facility, identify the facility as a group home for children, children's crisis care facility, children's residential center, residential parenting facility, county children's home, or district children's home, and provide contact information for the facility.

(2) A copy of the facility's procedures for emergencies and disasters established pursuant to rules adopted under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) A copy of the facility's medical emergency plan established pursuant to rules adopted under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code;

(4) A copy of the facility's community engagement plan established pursuant to rules adopted under section 5103.051 of the Revised Code.

(C) Within ten days of any change to the facility's information described in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, the facility shall provide to all county, municipal, or township law enforcement agencies, emergency management agencies, and fire departments with jurisdiction over the facility updated copies of the information required to be provided under divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section.

(D) The department may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary to implement this section.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 1:25 PM

Section 5103.051 | Community engagement plan.
 

(A) Each private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, public children services agency, or superintendent of a county or district children's home shall establish a community engagement plan in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section for each residential facility the agency, entity, or superintendent operates.

(B)(1) The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish the following:

(a) The contents of a community engagement plan to be established under division (A) of this section that includes the following:

(i) Protocols for the community in which a residential facility is located to communicate concerns or other pertinent information directly to the agency or entity;

(ii) Protocols for the agency or entity in responding to a communication made under division (B)(1)(a)(i) of this section.

(b) Orientation procedures for training residential facility staff on the implementation of the community engagement plan established under division (A) of this section and procedures for responding to incidents involving a child at the facility and neighbors or the police.

(2) The department shall file initial rules adopted under division (B)(1) of this section within ninety days after the effective date of this section.

Last updated October 5, 2023 at 3:04 PM

Section 5103.07 | Department to administer funds received under federal child welfare and abuse programs.
 

The department of job and family services shall administer funds received under Title IV-B of the "Social Security Act," 81 Stat. 821 (1967), 42 U.S.C.A. 620, as amended, and the "Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act," 88 Stat. 4 (1974), 42 U.S.C.A. 5101, as amended. In administering these funds, the department may establish a child welfare services program and a child abuse and neglect prevention and adoption reform program. The department has all powers necessary for the adequate administration of these funds and programs. The director of job and family services may adopt rules as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

Last updated October 6, 2023 at 8:54 AM

Section 5103.08 | Administering funds under state dependent care development grants.
 

The department of job and family services may enter into contracts with the department of education and workforce authorizing the department of job and family services to administer funds received by the department of education and workforce under the "State Dependent Care Development Grants Act," 100 Stat. 968 (1986), 42 U.S.C.A. 9871, as amended. In fulfilling its duties under such a contract, the department of job and family services may make grants to or enter into contracts with other public or private entities.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 4:12 PM

Section 5103.11 | Foster care and adoption initiatives fund.
 

There is hereby created the foster care and adoption initiatives fund. The fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state, but shall not be part of the state treasury. The fund shall consist of moneys collected under section 2919.1912 of the Revised Code. All interest earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide funding for foster care and adoption services and initiatives. The department of job and family services shall allocate moneys from the fund according to the following distribution:

(A) Fifty per cent of the moneys in the fund shall be used for foster care services and initiatives.

(B) Fifty per cent of the moneys in the fund shall be used for adoption services and initiatives.

Last updated October 6, 2023 at 8:55 AM

Section 5103.12 | Payments to encourage adoptive placement of children in permanent custody of public children services agency.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Hearing" has the same meaning as in section 119.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Permanent custody" has the same meaning as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of job and family services may enter into agreements with public children services agencies and private child placing agencies under which the department will make payments to encourage the adoptive placement of children in the permanent custody of a public children services agency. If the department terminates, or refuses to enter into or renew, an agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency under this section, the agency is entitled to a hearing.

Notwithstanding section 127.16 of the Revised Code, the department is not required to follow competitive selection procedures or to receive the approval of the controlling board to enter into agreements under this section or to make payments pursuant to the agreements.

(C) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section, including rules that establish all of the following:

(1) A single, uniform agreement that, at a minimum, prescribes a payment schedule and the terms and conditions with which a public children services agency or private child placing agency must comply to receive a payment;

(2) Eligibility requirements a public children services agency or private child placing agency must meet to enter into an agreement with the department;

(3) Eligibility requirements that a child who is the subject of an agreement must meet;

(4) Other administrative and operational requirements.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 11:03 AM

Section 5103.13 | Children's crisis care facilities requirements and limitations.
 

(A) As used in this section and section 5103.131 of the Revised Code:

(1)(a) "Children's crisis care facility" means a facility that has as its primary purpose the provision of residential and other care to either or both of the following:

(i) One or more preteens voluntarily placed in the facility by the preteen's parent or other caretaker who is facing a crisis that causes the parent or other caretaker to seek temporary care for the preteen and referral for support services;

(ii) One or more preteens placed in the facility by a public children services agency or private child placing agency that has legal custody or permanent custody of the preteen and determines that an emergency situation exists necessitating the preteen's placement in the facility rather than an institution certified under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code or elsewhere.

(b) "Children's crisis care facility" does not include any of the following:

(i) Any organization, society, association, school, agency, child guidance center, detention or rehabilitation facility, or children's clinic licensed, regulated, approved, operated under the direction of, or otherwise certified by the department of education and workforce, a local board of education, the department of youth services, the department of mental health and addiction services, or the department of developmental disabilities;

(ii) Any individual who provides care for only a single-family group, placed there by their parents or other relative having custody;

(iii) Any residential infant care center, as an entity deemed a residential infant care center under section 5103.602 of the Revised Code shall no longer be licensed as a children's crisis care center.

(2) "Legal custody" and "permanent custody" have the same meanings as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Pediatric medical service" means medical service required to be provided by, or with oversight from, a licensed medical professional, including prescribing medication, administering rectal or intravenous medication, and outpatient laboratory service, and providing for sick visits, on-site well child exams, and children assisted by medical technology.

(4) "Preteen" means an individual under thirteen years of age.

(B) No person shall operate a children's crisis care facility or hold a children's crisis care facility out as a certified children's crisis care facility unless there is a valid children's crisis care facility certificate issued under this section for the facility.

(C)(1) A person seeking to operate a children's crisis care facility shall apply to the director of job and family services to obtain a certificate for the facility.

(2)(a) The director shall certify the person's children's crisis care facility if the facility meets all of the certification standards established in rules adopted under division (H) of this section and the person complies with all of the rules governing the certification of children's crisis care facilities adopted under that division. The issuance of a children's crisis care facility certificate does not exempt the facility from a requirement to obtain another certificate or license mandated by law.

(b) The director shall not issue a waiver to a person for compliance with any of the requirements imposed under this section or any of the rules adopted under division (H) of this section.

(D) No certified children's crisis care facility shall do any of the following:

(1) Provide residential care to a preteen for more than one hundred twenty days in a calendar year;

(2) Provide residential care to a preteen for more than ninety consecutive days, which shall include the aggregate of days spent at different facility locations if a preteen is transferred in accordance with division (E)(4) of this section;

(3) Provide residential care to a preteen for more than fourteen consecutive days if a public children services agency or private child placing agency placed the preteen in the facility;

(4) Fail to comply with section 2151.86 of the Revised Code.

(E) A certified children's crisis care facility shall do the following:

(1) Employ a licensed social worker, a licensed independent social worker, a licensed professional counselor, or a licensed professional clinical counselor;

(2) Require, if pediatric medical service is provided at the facility, the following for the provision of pediatric medical service:

(a) Medical service to be provided by a qualified, licensed, and insured medical professional;

(b) All staff, volunteers, and interns to comply with the privacy requirements of the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," 104 Pub. L. No. 191, 110 Stat. 2021, 42 U.S.C. 1320d et seq., as amended;

(c) If a preteen is admitted by the preteen's parent or caretaker and if the preteen requires ongoing medical care following discharge from the facility, a medical professional or licensed social worker to make the medical professional's or social worker's best effort to ensure the parent or caretaker is competent to provide the ongoing care;

(d) The facility to have a dedicated and private enclosed space for the purpose of a medical professional to receive and treat patients and that contains a sink or tub, medical exam table, medical record system, and pediatric medical equipment.

(3) Require, if a preteen is admitted by the preteen's parent or caretaker, the facility's licensed social worker, licensed independent social worker, licensed professional counselor, or licensed professional clinical counselor to make their best efforts to ensure the parent or caretaker is competent in the basic parenting skills needed to care for the preteen;

(4) Require only a transfer summary for the transfer of a preteen from one certified children's crisis care facility location to another, if the facility has more than one location;

(5) Require the facility to have a dedicated and private enclosed space for the purpose of completing required admission paperwork and medical forms;

(6) Require the facility to develop a visitation plan for the preteen's parent or caretaker with the preteen while residential care is being provided, which shall occur during awake hours and not include overnight visits, for the parent or caretaker with the preteen.

(F) A certified children's crisis care facility may do the following:

(1) Count administrative staff, interns, and volunteers toward child staff ratios required under paragraph (G) of rule 5101:2-9-36 of the Administrative Code for up to three hours if the administrative staff, interns, or volunteers meet the following requirements:

(a) Completed training in the mission of the children's crisis care facility;

(b) Completed training pursuant to rule 5101:2-9-03 of the Administrative Code;

(c) Are supervised by facility staff.

(2) Use contracted transportation providers, on whom criminal records checks have been conducted in accordance with section 2151.86 of the Revised Code, to transport preteens, if such use is necessary for the facility to maintain required child staff ratios.

(G) The director of job and family services may suspend or revoke a children's crisis care facility's certificate pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if the facility violates or fails to comply with any of the requirements under this section or ceases to meet any of the certification standards established in rules adopted under division (H) of this section or the facility's operator ceases to comply with any of the rules governing the certification of children's crisis care facilities adopted under that division.

(H) Not later than ninety days after September 21, 2006, the director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the certification of children's crisis care facilities. The rules shall specify that a certificate shall not be issued to an applicant if the conditions at the children's crisis care facility would jeopardize the health or safety of the preteens placed in the facility.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 4:19 PM

Section 5103.131 | Federal grant application for children's crisis care facilities.
 

The department of job and family services may apply to the United States secretary of health and human services for a federal grant under the "Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act," 42 U.S.C. 5116, and the "Family First Prevention Services Act," 42 U.S.C. 50711, 50723, and 50741, to assist children's crisis care facilities certified under section 5103.13 of the Revised Code in providing temporary residential and other care to preteens.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:33 AM

Section 5103.14 | Enforcement powers.
 

The department of job and family services shall enforce sections 2151.39, 5103.15, and 5103.16 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:35 AM

Section 5103.15 | Agreements for temporary custody.
 

(A)(1) The parents, guardian, or other persons having the custody of a child may enter into an agreement with any public children services agency or private child placing agency, whereby the child is placed without the approval of the juvenile court in the temporary custody of the agency for a period of time of up to thirty days, except that an agreement for temporary custody can be for a period of time of up to sixty days without court approval if the agreement is executed solely for the purpose of obtaining the adoption of a child who is less than six months of age on the date of the execution of the agreement.

(2) Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section for agreements entered into to obtain the adoption of a child under the age of six months, any public children services agency or private child placing agency that obtains, without court approval, temporary custody of a child pursuant to an agreement executed in accordance with this division may request the juvenile court of the county in which the child has a residence or legal settlement for an original thirty-day extension of the temporary custody agreement. Upon the filing of a request for the extension of the temporary custody agreement, the juvenile court shall determine whether the extension is in the best interest of the child and may extend the temporary custody agreement for a period of thirty days beyond the initial thirty-day period for which court approval is not required by this division. The agency requesting the original extension shall file a case plan, prepared pursuant to section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, with the court at the same time that it files its request for an extension.

At the expiration of the original thirty-day extension period, the agency may request the juvenile court to grant an additional thirty-day extension of the temporary custody agreement. Upon the filing of the request for the additional extension, the juvenile court may extend the temporary custody agreement for a period of thirty days beyond the original thirty-day extension period if it determines that the additional extension is in the best interest of the child. The agency shall file an updated version of the child's case plan at the same time that it files its request for an additional extension.

At the expiration of an additional thirty-day extension period and at the expiration of the original thirty-day extension period if the agency does not request an additional thirty-day extension, the agency shall either return the child to the child's parents, guardian, or other person having custody of the child or file a complaint with the court pursuant to section 2151.27 of the Revised Code requesting temporary or permanent custody of the child. The complaint shall be accompanied by a case plan prepared in accordance with section 2151.412 of the Revised Code.

(3) Any public children services agency or private child placing agency that obtains, without court approval and solely for the purpose of obtaining the adoption of the child, temporary custody of a child who is under the age of six months pursuant to an agreement executed in accordance with this division may request the juvenile court in the county in which the child has a residence or legal settlement to grant a thirty day extension of the temporary custody agreement. Upon the filing of the request, the court shall determine whether the extension is in the best interest of the child and may extend the temporary custody agreement for a period of thirty days beyond the sixty day period for which the court approval is not required by this division. The agency requesting the extension shall file a case plan, prepared pursuant to section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, with the court at the same time that it files its request for an extension.

At the expiration of the thirty day extension, the agency shall either return the child to the parents, guardian, or other person having custody of the child or file a complaint with the court pursuant to section 2151.27 of the Revised Code requesting temporary or permanent custody of the child. The complaint shall be accompanied by a case plan prepared in accordance with section 2151.412 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Subject to, except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, juvenile court approval, the parents, guardian, or other persons having custody of a child may enter into an agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency surrendering the child into the permanent custody of the agency. An agency that enters into such an agreement may take and care for the child or place the child in a family home.

A private child placing agency or public children services agency that seeks permanent custody of a child pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section shall file a request with the juvenile court of the county in which the child has a residence or legal settlement for approval of the agency's permanent surrender agreement with the parents, guardian, or other persons having custody of the child. Not later than fourteen business days after the request is filed, the juvenile court shall determine whether the permanent surrender agreement is in the best interest of the child. The court may approve the permanent surrender agreement if it determines that the agreement is in the best interest of the child and, in the case of an agreement between a parent and an agency, the requirements of section 5103.151 of the Revised Code are met. The agency requesting the approval of the permanent surrender agreement shall file a case plan, prepared pursuant to section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, with the court at the same time that it files its request for the approval of the permanent surrender agreement.

(2) The parents of a child less than six months of age may enter into an agreement with a private child placing agency surrendering the child into the permanent custody of the agency without juvenile court approval if the agreement is executed solely for the purpose of obtaining the adoption of the child. The agency shall, not later than two business days after entering into the agreement, notify the juvenile court. The agency also shall notify the court not later than two business days after the agency places the child for adoption. The court shall journalize the notices it receives under division (B)(2) of this section.

(C) The agreements provided for in this section shall be in writing, on forms prescribed and furnished by the department, and may contain any proper and legal stipulations for proper care of the child, and may authorize the public children services agency or private child placing agency when such agreements are for permanent care and custody to appear in any proceeding for the legal adoption of the child, and consent to the child's adoption, as provided in section 3107.06 of the Revised Code. If an agreement for permanent care and custody of a child is executed, social and medical histories shall be completed in relation to the child in accordance with section 3107.09 of the Revised Code. The adoption order of the probate court judge made upon the consent shall be binding upon the child and the child's parents, guardian, or other person, as if those persons were personally in court and consented to the order, whether made party to the proceeding or not.

(D) An agreement entered into under this section by a parent under age eighteen is as valid as an agreement entered into by a parent age eighteen or older.

Section 5103.151 | Duties prospective parent of adoptee.
 

(A) As used in this section and in section 5103.152 of the Revised Code, "identifying information" has the same meaning as in section 3107.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a parent of a minor who will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.45 of the Revised Code shall do all of the following as a condition of a juvenile court approving the parent's agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code:

(1) Appear personally before the court;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) Check either the "yes" or "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code and sign that component;

(4) If the parent is the mother, complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(c) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(a), (b), and (c) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the parent may sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(d), (e), and (f) of that section. After the parent signs the components required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the parent or agency shall file the form and agreement with the court. The court or agency shall give the parent a copy of the form and agreement. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the form and agreement in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the form and agreement with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

The juvenile court shall question the parent to determine that the parent understands the adoption process, the ramifications of entering into a voluntary permanent custody surrender agreement, each component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, and that the child and adoptive parent may receive identifying information about the parent in accordance with section 3107.47 of the Revised Code unless the parent checks the "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code or has a denial of release form filed with the department of health under section 3107.46 of the Revised Code. The court also shall question the parent to determine that the parent enters into the permanent custody surrender agreement voluntarily and any decisions the parent makes in filling out the form prescribed under division (A)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code are made voluntarily.

(C) A juvenile court may approve an agreement entered into under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code between a public children services agency or private child placing agency and the parents of a child who is less than six months of age and will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.45 of the Revised Code without the parents personally appearing before the court if both parents do all of the following:

(1) Enter into the agreement with the agency;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) Check either the "yes" or "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code and sign that component.

At the time the parents sign the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(a) and (b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the mother shall complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(c) of that section and the agency shall provide the parents the opportunity to sign, if they choose to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (A)(1)(d), (e), and (f) of that section. Not later than two business days after the parents enter into the agreements and sign the components of the form required to be signed and any discretionary components the parents choose to sign, the agency shall file the agreements and forms with the court. The agency shall give the parents a copy of the agreements and forms. At the time the agency files the agreements and forms with the court, the agency also shall file with the court all other documents the director of job and family services requires by rules adopted under division (D) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code to be filed with the court. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the agreements, forms, and documents in the court and attorney's records. The agency shall file a copy of the agreements, forms, and documents with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a parent of a minor, who will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.38 of the Revised Code, shall do all of the following as a condition of a juvenile court approving the parent's agreement with a public children services agency or private child placing agency under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code:

(1) Appear personally before the court;

(2) Sign the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(3) If the parent is the mother, complete and sign the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs the components prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(a) and (b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, the parent may sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(c), (d), and (e) of that section. After the parent signs the components required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the parent or agency shall file the form and agreement with the court. The court or agency shall give the parent a copy of the form and agreement. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the form and agreement in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the form and agreement with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

The juvenile court shall question the parent to determine that the parent understands the adoption process, the ramifications of entering into a voluntary permanent custody surrender agreement, and each component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code. The court also shall question the parent to determine that the parent enters into the permanent custody surrender agreement voluntarily and any decisions the parent makes in filling out the form are made voluntarily.

(E) A juvenile court may approve an agreement entered into under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code between a public children services agency or private child placing agency and the parent of a child who is less than six months of age and will be, if adopted, an adopted person as defined in section 3107.38 of the Revised Code without the parent personally appearing before the court if the parent does both of the following:

(1) Signs the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(a) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code;

(2) If the parent is the mother, completes and signs the component of the form prescribed under division (B)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code.

At the time the parent signs that component, the agency shall provide the parent the opportunity to sign, if the parent chooses to do so, the components of the form prescribed under divisions (B)(1)(c), (d), and (e) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code. Not later than two business days after the parent enters into the agreement and signs the components of the form required to be signed and any discretionary components the parent chooses to sign, the agency shall file the agreement and form with the court. The agency shall give the parent a copy of the agreement and form. At the time the agency files the agreement and form with the court, the agency also shall file with the court all other documents the director of job and family services requires by rules adopted under division (D) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code to be filed with the court. The court and agency shall keep a copy of the agreement, form, and documents in the court and agency's records. The agency shall file a copy of the agreement, form, and documents with the probate court with which a petition to adopt the child who is the subject of the agreement is filed.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:36 AM

Section 5103.152 | Duties of assessor.
 

Not less than seventy-two hours before a public children services agency or private child placing agency enters into an agreement with a parent under division (B) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code, an assessor shall meet in person with the parent and do both of the following:

(A) Provide the parent with a copy of the written materials about adoption prepared by the department of job and family services under division (C) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code, discuss with the parent the adoption process and ramifications of a parent entering into a voluntary permanent custody surrender agreement, and provide the parent the opportunity to review the materials and ask questions about the materials, discussion, and related matters;

(B) If the child who is the subject of the agreement, if adopted, will be an adopted person as defined in section 3107.45 of the Revised Code, inform the parent that the parent's child and the adoptive parent may receive, in accordance with section 3107.47 of the Revised Code, identifying information about the parent that is contained in the child's adoption file maintained by the department of health unless the parent checks the "no" space provided on the component of the form prescribed under division (A)(1)(b) of section 3107.083 of the Revised Code or signs and has filed with the department a denial of release form prescribed under section 3107.50 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:37 AM

Section 5103.153 | Review hearing of agreement.
 

(A)(1) A juvenile court shall conduct a review hearing of an agreement the court approves under division (B)(1) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code once every seven months after the agreement is entered into if a final decree or interlocutory order of adoption for the child who is the subject of the agreement has not been issued or become final and the agreement is still in effect.

(2) A juvenile court shall conduct a review hearing of an agreement entered into under division (B)(2) of section 5103.15 of the Revised Code once every six months after the court is notified of the agreement if the agreement is still in effect and the court has not been notified that the child who is the subject of the agreement has been placed for adoption. The private child placing agency that entered into the agreement shall file a case plan, prepared pursuant to section 2151.412 of the Revised Code, with the court at the review hearing.

(B) A juvenile court shall give notice of a review hearing under division (A) of this section to each interested party. At the hearing, the court shall review the child's placement and custody arrangement. Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, the court may order that reasonable action be taken that the court determines is necessary and in the child's best interest or that an action that the court determines is not in the child's best interest be discontinued.

Section 5103.155 | Surplus in putative father registry fund used to promote adoption of children with special needs.
 

As used in this section, "children with special needs" has the same meaning as in rules adopted under section 5153.163 of the Revised Code.

If the department of job and family services determines that money in the putative father registry fund created under section 2101.16 of the Revised Code is more than is needed to perform its duties related to the putative father registry, the department may use surplus moneys in the fund to promote adoption of children with special needs.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:42 AM

Section 5103.16 | Certification required before associations and institutions may accept temporary or permanent custody of child.
 

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no child shall be placed or accepted for placement under any written or oral agreement or understanding that transfers or surrenders the legal rights, powers, or duties of the legal parent, parents, or guardian of the child into the temporary or permanent custody of any association or institution that is not certified by the department of job and family services under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code, without the written consent of the office in the department that oversees the interstate compact for placement of children established under section 5103.20 of the Revised Code or the interstate compact on the placement of children established under section 5103.23 of the Revised Code, as applicable, or by a commitment of a juvenile court, or by a commitment of a probate court as provided in this section. A child may be placed temporarily without written consent or court commitment with persons related by blood or marriage or in a legally licensed boarding home.

(B)(1) Associations and institutions certified under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code for the purpose of placing children in free foster homes or for legal adoption shall keep a record of the temporary and permanent surrenders of children. This record shall be available for separate statistics, which shall include a copy of an official birth record and all information concerning the social, mental, and medical history of the children that will aid in an intelligent disposition of the children in case that becomes necessary because the parents or guardians fail or are unable to reassume custody.

(2) No child placed on a temporary surrender with an association or institution shall be placed permanently in a foster home or for legal adoption. All surrendered children who are placed permanently in foster homes or for adoption shall have been permanently surrendered, and a copy of the permanent surrender shall be a part of the separate record kept by the association or institution.

(C) Any agreement or understanding to transfer or surrender the legal rights, powers, or duties of the legal parent or parents and place a child with a person seeking to adopt the child under this section shall be construed to contain a promise by the person seeking to adopt the child to pay the expenses listed in divisions (C)(1), (2), and (4) of section 3107.055 of the Revised Code and, if the person seeking to adopt the child refuses to accept placement of the child, to pay the temporary costs of routine maintenance and medical care for the child in a hospital, foster home, or other appropriate place for up to thirty days or until other custody is established for the child, as provided by law, whichever is less.

(D) No child shall be placed or received for adoption or with intent to adopt unless placement is made by a public children services agency, an institution or association that is certified by the department of job and family services under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code to place children for adoption, or custodians in another state or foreign country, or unless all of the following criteria are met:

(1) Prior to the placement and receiving of the child, the parent or parents of the child personally have applied to, and appeared before, the probate court of the county in which the parent or parents reside, or in which the person seeking to adopt the child resides, for approval of the proposed placement specified in the application and have signed and filed with the court a written statement showing that the parent or parents are aware of their right to contest the decree of adoption subject to the limitations of section 3107.16 of the Revised Code;

(2) The court ordered an independent home study of the proposed placement to be conducted as provided in section 3107.031 of the Revised Code, and after completion of the home study, the court determined that the proposed placement is in the best interest of the child;

(3) The court has approved of record the proposed placement.

In determining whether a custodian has authority to place children for adoption under the laws of a foreign country, the probate court shall determine whether the child has been released for adoption pursuant to the laws of the country in which the child resides, and if the release is in a form that satisfies the requirements of the immigration and naturalization service of the United States department of justice for purposes of immigration to this country pursuant to section 101(b)(1)(F) of the "Immigration and Nationality Act," 75 Stat. 650 (1961), 8 U.S.C. 1101 (b)(1)(F), as amended or reenacted.

If the parent or parents of the child are deceased or have abandoned the child, as determined under division (A) of section 3107.07 of the Revised Code, the application for approval of the proposed adoptive placement may be brought by the relative seeking to adopt the child, or by the department, board, or organization not otherwise having legal authority to place the orphaned or abandoned child for adoption, but having legal custody of the orphaned or abandoned child, in the probate court of the county in which the child is a resident, or in which the department, board, or organization is located, or where the person or persons with whom the child is to be placed reside. Unless the parent, parents, or guardian of the person of the child personally have appeared before the court and applied for approval of the placement, notice of the hearing on the application shall be served on the parent, parents, or guardian.

The consent to placement, surrender, or adoption executed by a minor parent before a judge of the probate court or an authorized deputy or referee of the court, whether executed within or outside the confines of the court, is as valid as though executed by an adult. A consent given as above before an employee of a children services agency that is licensed as provided by law, is equally effective, if the consent also is accompanied by an affidavit executed by the witnessing employee or employees to the effect that the legal rights of the parents have been fully explained to the parents, prior to the execution of any consent, and that the action was done after the birth of the child.

If the court approves a placement, the prospective adoptive parent with whom the child is placed has care, custody, and control of the child pending further order of the court.

(E)(1) This section does not apply to an adoption by a stepparent, a grandparent, a grandparent's husband or wife, a legal custodian, or a guardian.

(2) As used in division (E)(1) of this section:

(a) "Legal custodian" means a person who has been granted the legal custody of a child by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) "Legal custody" has the same meaning as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code or in any other substantially equivalent statute.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:45 AM

Section 5103.161 | Notification of foster caregiver or relative with custody of permanent custody motion or prospective adoption placement.
 

As used in this section, "permanent custody" has the same meaning as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

If a private child placing agency or public children services agency has placed a child in a foster home or with a relative of the child, other than a parent of the child, the agency shall notify the child's foster caregiver or relative if the agency seeks permanent custody of the child, or, if the agency already has permanent custody of the child, seeks to place the child for adoption. The notice also shall inform the foster caregiver or relative that the foster caregiver or relative can be considered for adoption. If the foster caregiver or relative informs the agency that the foster caregiver or relative wants to adopt the child, the agency shall inform the foster caregiver or relative of the process for obtaining an application to adopt the child and that the child may be placed for adoption in another home even if the foster caregiver or relative submits the application. If the agency is given permanent custody of the child and the foster caregiver or relative has informed the agency of the foster caregiver's or relative's desire to adopt the child, the agency shall consider giving preference to an adult relative over a nonrelative caregiver when determining an adoptive placement for the child, provided the adult relative satisfies all relevant child protection standards and the agency determines that the placement is in the child's best interest.

Section 5103.162 | Qualified immunity of foster caregiver.
 

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a resource caregiver shall be immune from liability in a civil action to recover damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission in connection with a power, duty, responsibility, or authorization under this chapter or under rules adopted under authority of this chapter.

(B) The immunity described in division (A) of this section does not apply to a resource caregiver if, in relation to the act or omission in question, any of the following applies:

(1) The act or omission was manifestly outside the scope of the resource caregiver's power, duty, responsibility, or authorization.

(2) The act or omission was with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.

(3) Liability for the act or omission is expressly imposed by a section of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A resource caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard when considering whether to authorize a foster child who resides in the resource home to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities.

(2) A public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency that serves as the child's custodian or as the supervising agency for the resource caregiver shall be immune from liability in a civil action to recover damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property that result from a resource caregiver's or agency's decisions using a reasonable and prudent parent standard in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect, limit, abridge, or otherwise modify the immunities and defenses available to a public children services agency as a political subdivision under Chapter 2744. of the Revised Code.

(4) As used in this section, "reasonable and prudent parent standard" means the standard characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the child's health, safety, and best interests while at the same time encouraging the child's emotional and developmental growth, that a caregiver or agency shall use when determining whether to allow a child in the care of a resource caregiver to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities.

Last updated October 6, 2023 at 12:33 PM

Section 5103.163 | Resource family bill of rights.
 

(A) The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish and enforce a resource family bill of rights for resource families providing care for individuals who are in the custody or care and placement of an agency that provides Title IV-E reimbursable services pursuant to sections 5103.03 to 5103.181 of the Revised Code.

(B) If the rights of the resource family conflict with the rights of the individual established by section 2151.316 of the Revised Code, division (B) of section 2151.316 of the Revised Code shall apply.

(C) The rights established by rules under this section shall not create grounds for a civil action against the department, the recommending agency, or the custodial agency.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:46 AM

Section 5103.17 | Advertising or inducements as to adoption or foster home placement.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Advertise" means a method of communication that is electronic, written, visual, or oral and made by means of personal representation, newspaper, magazine, circular, billboard, direct mailing, sign, radio, television, telephone, or otherwise.

(2) "Qualified adoptive parent" means a person who is eligible to adopt a child under section 3107.03 of the Revised Code and for whom an assessor has conducted a home study to determine whether the person is suitable to adopt a child, if required by section 3107.031 of the Revised Code.

(B) Subject to section 5103.16 of the Revised Code and to division (C), (D), or (E) of this section, no person or government entity, other than a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency certified by the department of job and family services under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code or a public children services agency, shall advertise that the person or government entity will adopt children or place them in foster homes, hold out inducements to parents to part with their offspring or in any manner knowingly become a party to the separation of a child from the child's parents or guardians, except through a juvenile court or probate court commitment.

(C) The biological parent of a child may advertise the availability for placement of the parent's child for adoption to a qualified adoptive parent.

(D) A qualified adoptive parent may advertise that the qualified adoptive parent is available for placement of a child into the qualified adoptive parent's care for the purpose of adopting the child.

(E) A government entity may advertise about its role in the placement of children for adoption or any other information that would be relevant to qualified adoptive parents.

(F) Except as provided in section 3107.055 of the Revised Code, the following apply:

(1) No person shall offer money or anything of value in exchange for placement of a child for adoption.

(2) No biological parent may request money or anything of value in exchange for placement for adoption of the parent's child with a qualified adoptive parent.

(G) If the department of job and family services has reasonable cause to believe a violation of this section has been committed, the department shall notify the attorney general or the county prosecutor, city attorney, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer of the political subdivision in which the violation has allegedly occurred. On receipt of the notification, the attorney general, county prosecutor, city attorney, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer shall take action to enforce this section through injunctive relief or criminal charge.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:48 AM

Section 5103.18 | Pre-placement report of child welfare system information search.
 

(A)(1) Prior to certification as a foster home under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code, a recommending agency shall obtain a summary report of a search of the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system, established under section 5101.13 of the Revised Code, from an entity listed in section 5101.132 of the Revised Code.

(2) Whenever a prospective foster parent or any other person eighteen years of age or older who resides with a prospective foster parent has resided in another state within the five-year period immediately prior to the date on which a criminal records check is requested for the person under division (A) of section 2151.86 of the Revised Code, the recommending agency shall request a check of the central registry of abuse and neglect of this state from the department of job and family services regarding the prospective foster parent or the person eighteen years of age or older who resides with the prospective foster parent to enable the agency to check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by that other state. The recommending agency shall make the request and shall review the results of the check before the prospective foster parent may be finally approved for placement of a child. Information received pursuant to such a request shall be considered for purposes of this chapter as if it were a summary report required under division (A) of this section. The department of job and family services shall comply with any request to check the central registry that is similar to the request described in this division and that is received from any other state.

(B)(1) The summary report required under division (A) of this section shall contain, if applicable, a chronological list of abuse and neglect determinations or allegations of which a person seeking to become a foster caregiver of a child is subject and in regards to which a public children services agency has done one of the following:

(a) Determined that abuse or neglect occurred;

(b) Initiated an investigation, and the investigation is ongoing;

(c) Initiated an investigation, and the agency was unable to determine whether abuse or neglect occurred.

(2) The summary report required under division (A) of this section shall not contain any of the following:

(a) An abuse and neglect determination of which a person seeking to become a foster caregiver of a child is subject and in regards to which a public children services agency determined that abuse or neglect did not occur;

(b) Information or reports the dissemination of which is prohibited by, or interferes with eligibility under, the "Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act," 88 Stat. 4 (1974), 42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., as amended;

(c) The name of the person who or entity that made, or participated in the making of, the report of abuse or neglect.

(C)(1) A foster home certification may be denied based on a summary report containing the information described under division (B)(1)(a) of this section, when considered within the totality of the circumstances.

(2) A foster home certification shall not be denied solely based on a summary report containing the information described under division (B)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.

(D) Not later than January 1, 2008, the director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for the implementation and execution of this section.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 11:52 AM

Section 5103.181 | Background checks.
 

(A) Prior to certification of a foster home under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code, a recommending agency shall conduct a search of the United States department of justice national sex offender public web site regarding the prospective or current foster caregiver and all persons eighteen years of age or older who reside with the prospective or current foster caregiver. Certification may be denied based solely on the results of the search.

(B) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code necessary for the implementation and execution of this section.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 11:56 AM

Section 5103.20 | Interstate compact for placement of children adopted.
 

The interstate compact for the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this compact is to:

(A) Provide a process through which children subject to this compact are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner.

(B) Facilitate ongoing supervision of a placement, the delivery of services, and communication between the states.

(C) Provide operating procedures that will ensure that children are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner.

(D) Provide for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact and regulating the covered activities of the member states.

(E) Provide for uniform data collection and information sharing between member states under this compact.

(F) Promote coordination between this compact, the Interstate Compacts for Juveniles, the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance and other compacts affecting the placement of and which provide services to children otherwise subject to this compact.

(G) Provide for a state's continuing legal jurisdiction and responsibility for placement and care of a child that it would have had if the placement were intrastate.

(H) Provide for the promulgation of guidelines, in collaboration with Indian tribes, for interstate cases involving Indian children as is or may be permitted by federal law.

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact:

(A) "Approved placement" means the public child placing agency in the receiving state has determined after an assessment that the placement is both safe and suitable for the child.

(B) "Assessment" means an evaluation of a prospective placement by a public child placing agency in the receiving state to determine if the placement meets the individualized needs of the child, including but not limited to the child's safety and stability, health and well-being, and mental, emotional, and physical development. An assessment is only applicable to a placement by a public child placing agency.

(C) "Child" means an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18).

(D) "Certification" means to attest, declare, or swear to before a judge or notary public.

(E) "Default" means the failure of a member state to perform the obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this compact, the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission.

(F) "Home study" means an evaluation of a home environment conducted in accordance with the applicable requirements of the state in which the home is located, and documents the preparation and the suitability of the placement resource for placement of a child in accordance with the laws and requirements of the state in which the home is located.

(G) "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians recognized as eligible for services provided to Indians by the Secretary of the Interior because of their status as Indians, including any Alaskan native village as defined in section 3 (c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act at 43 USC section 1602(c).

(H) "Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children" means the commission that is created under Article VIII of this compact and which is generally referred to as the Interstate Commission.

(I) "Jurisdiction" means the power and authority of a court to hear and decide matters.

(J) "Legal risk placement" ("legal risk adoption") means a placement made preliminary to an adoption where the prospective adoptive parents acknowledge in writing that a child can be ordered returned to the sending state or the birth mother's state of residence, if different from the sending state, and a final decree of adoption shall not be entered in any jurisdiction until all required consents are obtained or are dispensed with in accordance with applicable law.

(K) "Member state" means a state that has enacted this compact.

(L) "Non-custodial parent" means a person who, at the time of the commencement of court proceedings in the sending state, does not have sole legal custody of the child or has joint legal custody of a child, and who is not the subject of allegations or findings of child abuse or neglect.

(M) "Non-member state" means a state which has not enacted this compact.

(N) "Notice of residential placement" means information regarding a placement into a residential facility provided to the receiving state including, but not limited to the name, date, and place of birth of the child, the identity and address of the parent or legal guardian, evidence of authority to make the placement, and the name and address of the facility in which the child will be placed. Notice of residential placement shall also include information regarding a discharge and any unauthorized absence from the facility.

(O) "Placement" means the act by a public or private child placing agency intended to arrange for the care or custody of a child in another state.

(P) "Private child placing agency" means any private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another and that is not an instrumentality of the state or acting under color of state law.

(Q) "Provisional placement" means a determination made by the public child placing agency in the receiving state that the proposed placement is safe and suitable, and, to the extent allowable, the receiving state has temporarily waived its standards or requirements otherwise applicable to prospective foster or adoptive parents so as to not delay the placement. Completion of the receiving state requirements regarding training for prospective foster or adoptive parents shall not delay an otherwise safe and suitable placement.

(R) "Public child placing agency" means any government child welfare agency or child protection agency or a private entity under contract with such an agency, regardless of whether they act on behalf of a state, county, municipality, or other governmental unit and which facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another.

(S) "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought.

(T) "Relative" means someone who is related to the child as a parent, step-parent, sibling by half or whole blood or by adoption, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin or a non-relative with such significant ties to the child that they may be regarded as relatives as determined by the court in the sending state.

(U) "Residential Facility" means a facility providing a level of care that is sufficient to substitute for parental responsibility or foster care, and is beyond what is needed for assessment or treatment of an acute condition. For purposes of the compact, residential facilities do not include institutions primarily educational in character, hospitals, or other medical facilities.

(V) "Rule" means a written directive, mandate, standard, or principle issued by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to Article XI of this compact that is of general applicability and that implements, interprets or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact. "Rule" has the force and effect of an administrative rule in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

(W) "Sending state" means the state from which the placement of a child is initiated.

(X) "Service member's permanent duty station" means the military installation where an active duty Armed Services member is currently assigned and is physically located under competent orders that do not specify the duty as temporary.

(Y) "Service member's state of legal residence" means the state in which the active duty Armed Services member is considered a resident for tax and voting purposes.

(Z) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands and any other territory of the United States.

(AA) "State court" means a judicial body of a state that is vested by law with responsibility for adjudicating cases involving abuse, neglect, deprivation, delinquency or status offenses of individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen (18).

(BB) "Supervision" means monitoring provided by the receiving state once a child has been placed in a receiving state pursuant to this compact.

ARTICLE III.

APPLICABILITY

(A) Except as otherwise provided in Article III, Section B, this compact shall apply to:

(1) The interstate placement of a child subject to ongoing court jurisdiction in the sending state, due to allegations or findings that the child has been abused, neglected, or deprived as defined by the laws of the sending state, provided, however, that the placement of such a child into a residential facility shall only require notice of residential placement to the receiving state prior to placement.

(2) The interstate placement of a child adjudicated delinquent or unmanageable based on the laws of the sending state and subject to ongoing court jurisdiction of the sending state if:

(a) The child is being placed in a residential facility in another member state and is not covered under another compact; or

(b) The child is being placed in another member state and the determination of safety and suitability of the placement and services required is not provided through another compact.

(3) The interstate placement of any child by a public child placing agency or private child placing agency as defined in this compact as a preliminary step to a possible adoption.

(B) The provisions of this compact shall not apply to:

(1) The interstate placement of a child in a custody proceeding in which a public child placing agency is not a party, provided, the placement is not intended to effectuate an adoption.

(2) The interstate placement of a child with a non-relative in a receiving state by a parent with the legal authority to make such a placement provided, however, that the placement is not intended to effectuate an adoption.

(3) The interstate placement of a child by one relative with the lawful authority to make such a placement directly with a relative in a receiving state.

(4) The placement of a child, not subject to Article III, Section A, into a residential facility by his parent.

(5) The placement of a child with a non-custodial parent provided that:

(a) The non-custodial parent proves to the satisfaction of a court in the sending state a substantial relationship with the child; and

(b) The court in the sending state makes a written finding that placement with the non-custodial parent is in the best interests of the child; and

(c) The court in the sending state dismisses its jurisdiction in interstate placements in which the public child placing agency is a party to the proceeding.

(6) A child entering the United States from a foreign country for the purpose of adoption or leaving the United States to go to a foreign country for the purpose of adoption in that country.

(7) Cases in which a U.S. citizen child living overseas with his family, at least one of whom is in the U.S. Armed Services, and who is stationed overseas, is removed and placed in a state.

(8) The sending of a child by a public child placing agency or a private child placing agency for a visit as defined by the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(C) For purposes of determining the applicability of this compact to the placement of a child with a family in the Armed Services, the public child placing agency or private child placing agency may choose the state of the service member's permanent duty station or the service member's declared legal residence.

(D) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the concurrent application of the provisions of this compact with other applicable interstate compacts including the Interstate Compact for Juveniles and the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance. The Interstate Commission may in cooperation with other interstate compact commissions having responsibility for the interstate movement, placement or transfer of children, promulgate like rules to ensure the coordination of services, timely placement of children, and the reduction of unnecessary or duplicative administrative or procedural requirements.

ARTICLE IV.

JURISDICTION

(A) Except as provided in Article IV, Section H and Article V, Section B, paragraph two and three concerning private and independent adoptions, and in interstate placements in which the public child placing agency is not a party to a custody proceeding, the sending state shall retain jurisdiction over a child with respect to all matters of custody and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to order the return of the child to the sending state.

(B) When an issue of child protection or custody is brought before a court in the receiving state, such court shall confer with the court of the sending state to determine the most appropriate forum for adjudication.

(C) In cases that are before courts and subject to this compact, the taking of testimony for hearings before any judicial officer may occur in person or by telephone, audio-video conference, or such other means as approved by the rules of the Interstate Commission; and judicial officers may communicate with other judicial officers and persons involved in the interstate process as may be permitted by their Canons of Judicial Conduct and any rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

(D) In accordance with its own laws, the court in the sending state shall have authority to terminate its jurisdiction if:

(1) The child is reunified with the parent in the receiving state who is the subject of allegations or findings of abuse or neglect, only with the concurrence of the public child placing agency in the receiving state; or

(2) The child is adopted; or

(3) The child reaches the age of majority under the laws of the sending state; or

(4) The child achieves legal independence pursuant to the laws of the sending state; or

(5) A guardianship is created by a court in the receiving state with the concurrence of the court in the sending state; or

(6) An Indian tribe has petitioned for and received jurisdiction from the court in the sending state; or

(7) The public child placing agency of the sending state requests termination and has obtained the concurrence of the public child placing agency in the receiving state.

(E) When a sending state court terminates its jurisdiction, the receiving state child placing agency shall be notified.

(F) Nothing in this article shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state court sufficient to deal with an act of truancy, delinquency, crime or behavior involving a child as defined by the laws of the receiving state committed by the child in the receiving state which would be a violation of its laws.

(G) Nothing in this article shall limit the receiving state's ability to take emergency jurisdiction for the protection of the child.

(H) The substantive laws of the state in which an adoption will be finalized shall solely govern all issues relating to the adoption of the child and the court in which the adoption proceeding is filed shall have subject matter jurisdiction regarding all substantive issues relating to the adoption except:

(1) When the child is a ward of another court that established jurisdiction over the child prior to the placement; or

(2) When the child is in the legal custody of a public agency in the sending state; or

(3) When a court in the sending state has otherwise appropriately assumed jurisdiction over the child, prior to the submission of the request for approval of placement.

(I) A final decree of adoption shall not be entered in any jurisdiction until the placement is authorized as an "approved placement" by the public child placing agency in the receiving state.

ARTICLE V.

ASSESSMENTS

(A) Prior to sending, bringing, or causing a child to be sent or brought into a receiving state, the public child placing agency shall provide a written request for assessment to the receiving state.

(B) For placements by a private child placing agency, a child may be sent or brought, or caused to be sent or brought, into a receiving state, upon receipt and immediate review of the required content in a request for approval of a placement in both the sending and receiving state public child placing agency. The required content to accompany a request for approval shall include all of the following:

(1) A request for approval identifying the child, birth parent(s), the prospective adoptive parent(s), and the supervising agency, signed by the person requesting approval; and

(2) The appropriate consents or relinquishments signed by the birth parents in accordance with the laws of the sending state, or, where permitted, the laws of the state where the adoption will be finalized; and

(3) Certification by a licensed attorney or authorized agent of a private adoption agency that the consent or relinquishment is in compliance with the applicable laws of the sending state, or, where permitted, the laws of the state where finalization of the adoption will occur; and

(4) A home study; and

(5) An acknowledgment of legal risk signed by the prospective adoptive parents.

(C) The sending state and the receiving state may request additional information or documents prior to finalization of an approved placement, but they may not delay travel by the prospective adoptive parents with the child if the required content for approval has been submitted, received, and reviewed by the public child placing agency in both the sending state and the receiving state.

(D) Approval from the public child placing agency in the receiving state for a provisional or approved placement is required as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(E) The procedures for making and the request for an assessment shall contain all information and be in such form as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(F) Upon receipt of a request from the public child placing agency of the sending state, the receiving state shall initiate an assessment of the proposed placement to determine its safety and suitability. If the proposed placement is a placement with a relative, the public child placing agency of the sending state may request a determination for a provisional placement.

(G) The public child placing agency in the receiving state may request from the public child placing agency or the private child placing agency in the sending state, and shall be entitled to receive supporting or additional information necessary to complete the assessment.

(H) The public child placing agency in the receiving state shall approve a provisional placement and complete or arrange for the completion of the assessment within the timeframes established by the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(I) For a placement by a private child placing agency, the sending state shall not impose any additional requirements to complete the home study that are not required by the receiving state, unless adoption is finalized in the sending state.

(J) The Interstate Commission may develop uniform standards for the assessment of the safety and suitability of interstate placements.

ARTICLE VI.

PLACEMENT AUTHORITY

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this compact, no child subject to this compact shall be placed into a receiving state until approval for such placement is obtained.

(B) If the public child placing agency in the receiving state does not approve the proposed placement then the child shall not be placed. The receiving state shall provide written documentation of any such determination in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission. Such determination is not subject to judicial review in the sending state.

(C) If the proposed placement is not approved, any interested party shall have standing to seek an administrative review of the receiving state's determination.

(1) The administrative review and any further judicial review associated with the determination shall be conducted in the receiving state pursuant to its applicable Administrative Procedures Act.

(2) If a determination not to approve the placement of the child in the receiving state is overturned upon review, the placement shall be deemed approved, provided however that all administrative or judicial remedies have been exhausted or the time for such remedies has passed.

ARTICLE VII.

STATE RESPONSIBILITY

(A) For the interstate placement of a child made by a public child placing agency or state court:

(1) The public child placing agency in the sending state shall have financial responsibility for:

(a) The ongoing support and maintenance for the child during the period of the placement, unless otherwise provided for in the receiving state; and

(b) As determined by the public child placing agency in the sending state, services for the child beyond the public services for which the child is eligible in the receiving state.

(2) The receiving state shall only have financial responsibility for:

(a) Any assessment conducted by the receiving state; and

(b) Supervision conducted by the receiving state at the level necessary to support the placement as agreed upon by the public child placing agencies of the receiving and sending state.

(3) Nothing in this provision shall prohibit public child placing agencies in the sending state from entering into agreements with licensed agencies or persons in the receiving state to conduct assessments and provide supervision.

(B) For the placement of a child by a private child placing agency preliminary to a possible adoption, the private child placing agency shall be:

(1) Legally responsible for the child during the period of placement as provided for in the law of the sending state until the finalization of the adoption.

(2) Financially responsible for the child absent a contractual agreement to the contrary.

(C) The public child placing agency in the receiving state shall provide timely assessments, as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(D) The public child placing agency in the receiving state shall provide, or arrange for the provision of, supervision and services for the child, including timely reports, during the period of the placement.

(E) Nothing in this compact shall be construed as to limit the authority of the public child placing agency in the receiving state from contracting with a licensed agency or person in the receiving state for an assessment or the provision of supervision or services for the child or otherwise authorizing the provision of supervision or services by a licensed agency during the period of placement.

(F) Each member state shall provide for coordination among its branches of government concerning the state's participation in, and compliance with, the compact and Interstate Commission activities, through the creation of an advisory council or use of an existing body or board.

(G) Each member state shall establish a central state compact office, which shall be responsible for state compliance with the compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission.

(H) The public child placing agency in the sending state shall oversee compliance with the provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 USC 1901 et seq.) for placements subject to the provisions of this compact, prior to placement.

(I) With the consent of the Interstate Commission, states may enter into limited agreements that facilitate the timely assessment and provision of services and supervisions of placements under this compact.

ARTICLE VIII.

INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN

The member states hereby establish, by way of this compact, a commission known as the "Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children." The activities of the Interstate Commission are the formation of public policy and are a discretionary state function. The Interstate Commission shall:

(A) Be joint commission of the member states and shall have the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth herein, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of the member states.

(B) Consist of one commissioner from each member state who shall be appointed by the executive head of the state human services administration with ultimate responsibility for the child welfare program. The appointed commissioner shall have the legal authority to vote on policy related matters governed by this compact binding the state.

(1) Each member state represented at a meeting of the Interstate Commission is entitled to one vote.

(2) A majority of the member states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

(3) A representative shall not delegate a vote to another member state.

(4) A representative may delegate voting authority to another person from their state for a specified meeting.

(C) In addition to the commissioners of each member state, the Interstate Commission shall include persons who are members of interested organizations as defined in the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission. Such members shall be ex officio and shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the Interstate Commission.

(D) Establish an executive committee which shall have the authority to administer the day-to-day operations and administration of the Interstate Commission. It shall not have the power to engage in rulemaking.

ARTICLE IX.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

The Interstate Commission shall have the following powers:

(A) To promulgate rules and take all necessary actions to effect the goals, purposes, and obligations as enumerated in this compact.

(B) To provide for dispute resolution among member states.

(C) To issue, upon request of a member state, advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of the interstate compact, its bylaws, rules, or actions.

(D) To enforce compliance with this compact or the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission pursuant to Article XII.

(E) Collect standardized data concerning the interstate placement of children subject to this compact as directed through its rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection, and data exchange and reporting requirements.

(F) To establish and maintain offices as may be necessary for the transacting of its business.

(G) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.

(H) To hire or contract for services of personnel or consultants as necessary to carry out its functions under the compact and establish personnel qualification policies, and rates of compensation.

(I) To establish and appoint committees and officers including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by Article X.

(J) To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose thereof.

(K) To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use any property, real, personal, or mixed.

(L) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed.

(M) To establish a budget and make expenditures.

(N) To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the Interstate Commission.

(O) To report annually to the legislatures, governors, the judiciary, and state advisory councils of the member states concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the Interstate Commission.

(P) To coordinate and provide education, training, and public awareness regarding the interstate movement of children for officials involved in such activity.

(Q) To maintain books and records in accordance with the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

(R) To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.

ARTICLE X.

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

(A) Bylaws:

(1) Within 12 months after the first Interstate Commission meeting, the Interstate Commission shall adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact.

(2) The Interstate Commission's bylaws and rules shall establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.

(B) Meetings:

(1) The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the member states shall call additional meetings.

(2) Public notice shall be given by the Interstate Commission of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The Interstate Commission and its committees may close a meeting, or portion thereof, where it determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be likely to:

(a) Relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures; or

(b) Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal law; or

(c) Disclose financial or commercial information which is privileged, proprietary, or confidential in nature; or

(d) Involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally censuring a person; or

(e) Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or physically endanger one or more persons; or

(f) Disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes; or

(g) Specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.

(3) For a meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed pursuant to this provision, the Interstate Commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exemption provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views expressed and the record of a roll call vote. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Interstate Commission or by court order.

(4) The bylaws may provide for meetings of the Interstate Commission to be conducted by telecommunication or other electronic communication.

(C) Officers and Staff:

(1) The Interstate Commission may, through its executive committee, appoint or retain a staff director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The staff director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall not have a vote. The staff director may hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Interstate Commission.

(2) The Interstate Commission shall elect, from among its members, a chairperson and a vice chairperson of the executive committee and other necessary officers, each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws.

(D) Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification:

(1) The Interstate Commission's staff director and its employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

(a) The liability of the Interstate Commission's staff director and employees or Interstate Commission representatives, acting within the scope of such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such person's state may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees, and agents. The Interstate Commission is considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the purposes of any such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect such person from suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.

(b) The Interstate Commission shall defend the staff director and its employees and, subject to the approval of the Attorney General or other appropriate legal counsel of the member state shall defend the commissioner of a member state in a civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such person.

(c) To the extent not covered by the state involved, member state, or the Interstate Commission, the representatives or employees of the Interstate Commission shall be held harmless in the amount of a settlement or judgment, including attorney's fees and costs, obtained against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of the Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.

ARTICLE XI.

RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION

(A) The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact.

(B) Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set forth in this article and the bylaws and rules adopted pursuant thereto. Such rulemaking shall substantially conform to the principles of the "Model State Administrative Procedures Act," 1981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p.1 (2000), or such other administrative procedure acts as the Interstate Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process requirements under the United States Constitution as now or hereafter interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. All rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified, as published with the final version of the rule as approved by the Interstate Commission.

(C) When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall, at a minimum:

(1) Publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the reason(s) for that proposed rule; and

(2) Allow and invite any and all persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and arguments, which information shall be added to the record, and be made publicly available; and

(3) Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on input from state or local officials, or interested parties.

(D) Rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission shall have the force and effect of administrative rules and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided for in this compact.

(E) Not later than 60 days after a rule is promulgated, an interested person may file a petition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal District Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for judicial review of such rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rulemaking record, the court shall hold the rule unlawful and set it aside.

(F) If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule, those states may by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact cause that such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.

(G) The existing rules governing the operation of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children superseded by this act shall be null and void no less than 12, but no more than 24 months after the first meeting of the Interstate Commission created hereunder, as determined by the members during the first meeting.

(H) Within the first 12 months of operation, the Interstate Commission shall promulgate rules addressing the following:

(1) Transition rules;

(2) Forms and procedures;

(3) Time lines;

(4) Data collection and reporting;

(5) Rulemaking;

(6) Visitation;

(7) Progress reports/supervision;

(8) Sharing of information/confidentiality;

(9) Financing of the Interstate Commission;

(10) Mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution;

(11) Education, training and technical assistance;

(12) Enforcement;

(13) Coordination with other interstate compacts.

(I) Upon determination by a majority of the members of the Interstate Commission that an emergency exists:

(1) The Interstate Commission may promulgate an emergency rule only if it is required to:

(a) Protect the children covered by this compact from an imminent threat to their health, safety and well-being; or

(b) Prevent loss of federal or state funds; or

(c) Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule required by federal law.

(2) An emergency rule shall become effective immediately upon adoption, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided hereunder shall be retroactively applied to said rule as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 90 days after the effective date of the emergency rule.

(3) An emergency rule shall be promulgated as provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.

ARTICLE XII.

OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, ENFORCEMENT

(A) Oversight:

(1) The Interstate Commission shall oversee the administration and operations of the compact.

(2) The executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. The compact and its rules shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided for in this compact.

(3) All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact.

(4) The Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any action in which the validity of a compact provision or rule is the issue for which a judicial determination has been sought and shall have standing to intervene in any proceedings. Failure to provide service of process to the Interstate Commission shall render any judgment, order or other determination, however so captioned or classified, void as to the Interstate Commission, this compact, its bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission.

(B) Dispute Resolution:

(1) The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member state, to resolve disputes which are subject to the compact and which may arise among member states and between member and non-member states.

(2) The Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes among compacting states. The costs of such mediation or dispute resolution shall be the responsibility of the parties to the dispute.

(C) Enforcement:

(1) If the Interstate Commission determines that a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, its bylaws or rules, the Interstate Commission may:

(a) Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance; or

(b) Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member states, of the nature of the default and the means of curing the default. The Interstate Commission shall specify the conditions by which the defaulting state must cure its default; or

(c) By majority vote of the members, initiate against a defaulting member state legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal district where the Interstate Commission has its principal offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, its bylaws or rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees; or

(d) Avail itself of any other remedies available under state law or the regulation of official or professional conduct.

ARTICLE XIII.

FINANCING OF THE COMMISSION

(A) The Interstate Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization and ongoing activities.

(B) The Interstate Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved by its members each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Interstate Commission which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all member states.

(C) The Interstate Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state.

(D) The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.

ARTICLE XIV.

MEMBER STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT

(A) Any state is eligible to become a member state.

(B) The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than 35 states. The effective date shall be the later of July 1, 2007 or upon enactment of the compact into law by the 35th state. Thereafter it shall become effective and binding as to any other member state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state. The executive heads of the state human services administration with ultimate responsibility for the child welfare program of non-member states or their designees shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate Commission on a non-voting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states.

(C) The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall become effective and binding on the member states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the member states.

ARTICLE XV.

WITHDRAWAL AND DISSOLUTION

(A) Withdrawal:

(1) Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that a member state may withdraw from the compact specifically repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.

(2) Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same. The effective date of withdrawal shall be the effective date of the repeal of the statute.

(3) The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the president of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall then notify the other member states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw.

(4) The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal.

(5) Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the members of the Interstate Commission.

(B) Dissolution of Compact:

(1) This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the membership in the compact to one member state.

(2) Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI.

SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION

(A) The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

(B) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

(C) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit the concurrent applicability of other interstate compacts to which the states are members.

ARTICLE XVII.

BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS

(A) Other Laws:

(1) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with this compact.

(B) Binding Effect of the Compact:

(1) All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the member states.

(2) All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the member states are binding in accordance with their terms.

(3) In the event any provision of the compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that member state.

ARTICLE XVIII.

INDIAN TRIBES

Notwithstanding any other provision in this compact, the Interstate Commission may promulgate guidelines to permit Indian tribes to utilize the compact to achieve any or all of the purposes of the compact as specified in Article I. The Interstate Commission shall make reasonable efforts to consult with Indian tribes in promulgating guidelines to reflect the diverse circumstances of the various Indian tribes.

Last updated October 6, 2023 at 12:47 PM

Section 5103.21 | Department compact implementing rules.
 

The department of job and family services may adopt rules necessary for the implementation of section 5103.20 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:49 AM

Section 5103.22 | State human services administration.
 

As used in division (B) of Article VIII of section 5103.20 of the Revised Code, "state human services administration" means the department of job and family services.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:51 AM

Section 5103.23 | Interstate Compact on Placement of Children.
 

The interstate compact on the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:

Article I. Purpose and Policy.

It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that:

(A) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a suitable environment and with persons or institutions having appropriate qualifications and facilities to provide a necessary and desirable degree and type of care.

(B) The appropriate authorities in a state where a child is to be placed may have full opportunity to ascertain the circumstances of the proposed placement, thereby promoting full compliance with applicable requirements for the protection of the child.

(C) The proper authorities of the state from which the placement is made may obtain the most complete information on the basis of which to evaluate a projected placement before it is made.

(D) Appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of children will be promoted.

Article II. Definitions.

As used in this compact:

(A) "Child" means a person who, by reason of minority, is legally subject to parental, guardianship or similar control.

(B) "Sending agency" means a party state, officer or employee thereof; a subdivision of a party state, or officer or employee thereof; a court of a party state; a person, corporation, association, charitable agency, or other entity which sends, brings, or causes to be sent or brought any child to another party state.

(C) "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought, whether by public authorities or private persons or agencies, and whether for placement with state or local public authorities or for placement with private agencies or persons.

(D) "Placement" means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home, or in a child-caring agency or institution but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill, mentally defective, or epileptic, or any institution primarily educational in character, and any hospital or other medical facility.

Article III. Conditions for Placement.

(A) No sending agency shall send, bring, or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this article and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein.

(B) Prior to sending, bringing or causing any child to be sent or brought into a receiving state for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption, the sending agency shall furnish the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state written notice of the intention to send, bring, or place the child in the receiving state. The notice shall contain:

(1) The name, date and place of the birth of the child;

(2) The identity and address or addresses of the parents or legal guardian;

(3) The name and address of the person, agency, or institution to or with which the sending agency proposes to send, bring, or place the child;

(4) A full statement of the reasons for such proposed action and evidence of the authority pursuant to which the placement is proposed to be made.

(C) Any public officer or agency in a receiving state which is in receipt of a notice pursuant to division (B) of this article may request of the sending agency, or any other appropriate officer or agency of or in the sending agency's state, and shall be entitled to receive therefrom, such supporting or additional information as it may deem necessary under the circumstances to carry out the purpose and policy of this compact.

(D) The child shall not be sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into the receiving state until the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state shall notify the sending agency, in writing, to the effect that the proposed placement does not appear to be contrary to the interests of the child.

Article IV. Penalty for Illegal Placement.

The sending, bringing, or causing to be sent or brought into any receiving state of a child in violation of the terms of this compact shall constitute a violation of the laws respecting the placement of children of both the state in which the sending agency is located or from which it sends or brings the child and of the receiving state. Such violation may be punished or subjected to penalty in either jurisdiction in accordance with its laws. In addition to liability for any such punishment or penalty, any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place, or care for children.

Article V. Retention of Jurisdiction.

(A) The sending agency shall retain jurisdiction over the child sufficient to determine all matters in relation to the custody, supervision, care, treatment and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending agency's state, until the child is adopted, reaches majority, becomes self-supporting or is discharged with the concurrence of the appropriate authority in the receiving state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to effect or cause the return of the child or its transfer to another location and custody pursuant to law. The sending agency shall continue to have financial responsibility for support and maintenance of the child during the period of the placement. Nothing contained herein shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state sufficient to deal with an act of delinquency or crime committed therein.

(B) When the sending agency is a public agency, it may enter into an agreement with an authorized public or private agency in the receiving state providing for the performance of one or more services in respect of such case by the latter as agent for the sending agency.

(C) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent a private charitable agency authorized to place children in the receiving state from performing services or acting as agent in that state for a private charitable agency of the sending state; nor to prevent the agency in the receiving state from discharging financial responsibility for the support and maintenance of a child who has been placed on behalf of the sending agency without relieving the responsibility set forth in paragraph (A) hereof.

Article VI. Institutional Care of Delinquent Children.

A child adjudicated delinquent may be placed in an institution in another party jurisdiction pursuant to this compact but no such placement shall be made unless the child is given a court hearing on notice to the parent or guardian with opportunity to be heard prior to his being sent to such other party jurisdiction for institutional care and the court finds that:

(A) Equivalent facilities for the child are not available in the sending agency's jurisdiction; and

(B) Institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship.

Article VII. Compact Administrator.

The executive head of each jurisdiction party to this compact shall designate an officer who shall be general coordinator of activities under this compact in his jurisdiction and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party jurisdictions, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.

Article VIII. Limitations.

This compact shall not apply to:

(A) The sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state by his parent, step-parent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or his guardian and leaving the child with any such relative or non-agency guardian in the receiving state.

(B) Any placement, sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state pursuant to any other interstate compact to which both the state from which the child is sent or brought and the receiving state are party, or to any other agreement between said states which has the force of law.

Article IX. Enactment and Withdrawal.

This compact shall be open to joinder by any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, with the consent of congress, the government of Canada, or any province thereof. It shall become effective with respect to any such jurisdiction when such jurisdiction has enacted the same into law. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until two years after the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the governor of each other party jurisdiction. Withdrawal of a party state shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations under this compact of any sending agency therein with respect to a placement made prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

Article X. Construction and Severability.

The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

Section 5103.231 | Determination of financial responsibility.
 

Financial responsibility for any child placed pursuant to the provisions of the interstate compact on the placement of children shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Article V of section 5103.23 of the Revised Code. However, in the event of parental or complete default of performance thereunder, the provisions of laws fixing responsibility for the support of children also may be invoked.

Section 5103.232 | Appropriate public authority.
 

The "appropriate public authorities" as used in Article III of the interstate compact on the placement of department of job and family services and that department shall receive and act with reference to notices required by said Article III.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:58 AM

Section 5103.233 | Appropriate authority in receiving state.
 

As used in paragraph (A) of Article V of the interstate compact on the placement of children, the phrase "appropriate authority in the receiving state" with reference to this state shall mean the department of job and family services.

Last updated September 28, 2023 at 10:59 AM

Section 5103.234 | Agreements with other party states.
 

The officers and agencies of this state and its subdivisions having authority to place children are hereby empowered to enter into agreements with appropriate officers or agencies of or in other party states pursuant to paragraph (B) of Article V of the interstate compact on the placement of children. Any such agreement which contains a financial commitment or imposes a financial obligation on this state is subject to the approval of the director of budget and management. Any such agreement which contains a financial commitment or imposes a financial obligation on any subdivision of this state shall not be binding unless it has the approval in writing of the chief local fiscal officer.

Section 5103.235 | Requirements for visitation, inspection, supervision of children.
 

Any requirements for visitation, inspection, or supervision of children, homes, institutions, or other agencies in another party state which may apply under Chapter 5103. of the Revised Code shall be deemed to be met if performed pursuant to an agreement entered into by appropriate officers or agencies of this state or a subdivision thereof as contemplated by paragraph (B) of Article V of the interstate compact on the placement of children.

Section 5103.236 | Jurisdiction of court.
 

Any court having jurisdiction to place delinquent children may place such a child in an institution in another state pursuant to Article VI of the interstate compact on the placement of children and shall retain jurisdiction as provided in Article V thereof.

Section 5103.237 | Executive head defined.
 

As used in Article VII of the interstate compact on the placement of children, the term "executive head" means the governor. The Governor is hereby authorized to appoint a compact administrator in accordance with the terms of said Article VII.

Section 5103.30 | Ohio child welfare training program.
 

The Ohio child welfare training program is hereby established in the department of job and family services as a statewide program. The program shall provide all of the following:

(A) The training that section 3107.014 of the Revised Code requires an assessor to complete;

(B) The preplacement training that sections 5103.031 and 5103.033 of the Revised Code require a prospective foster caregiver to complete;

(C) The continuing training that sections 5103.032 and 5103.033 of the Revised Code require a foster caregiver to complete;

(D) The training that section 5153.122 of the Revised Code requires a PCSA caseworker to complete;

(E) The training that section 5153.123 of the Revised Code requires a PCSA caseworker supervisor to complete;

(F) The training required under section 5101.1414 of the Revised Code for a case manager and supervisor.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:44 PM

Section 5103.302 | Private agency enrollment conditioned on space.
 

The Ohio child welfare training program may condition a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver's enrollment in its preplacement and continuing training provided under divisions (B) and (C) of section 5103.30 of the Revised Code on the availability of space in the training if the prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver's recommending agency is a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency.

Section 5103.303 | Payment of department allowance to private agencies.
 

When the Ohio child welfare training program provides preplacement or continuing training to a prospective foster caregiver or foster caregiver whose recommending agency is a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency, the department of job and family services shall not pay the Ohio child welfare training program the allowance the department would otherwise pay to the private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency under section 5103.0313 of the Revised Code for the training.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:46 PM

Section 5103.32 | Funding Ohio child welfare training program.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Title IV-B" means Title IV-B of the "Social Security Act of 1967," 81 Stat. 821, 42 U.S.C. 620, as amended.

(2) "Title IV-E" means Title IV-E of the "Social Security Act," 94 Stat. 501, 42 U.S.C. 670(1980).

(3) "Title XX" has the same meaning as in section 5101.46 of the Revised Code.

(B) For purposes of adequately funding the Ohio child welfare training program, the department of job and family services may use any of the following:

(1) The federal financial participation funds withheld pursuant to division (E) of section 5101.141 of the Revised Code in an amount determined by the department;

(2) Funds available under Title XX, Title IV-B, and Title IV-E to pay for training costs;

(3) Other available state or federal funds;

(4) Funds that a person, including a foundation, makes available for the program.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:43 PM

Section 5103.37 | Training coordinator for child welfare training program - duties.
 

The Ohio child welfare training program coordinator shall do all the following:

(A) Manage, coordinate, and evaluate all of the program's training provided under section 5103.30 of the Revised Code;

(B) Develop curriculum, resources, and products for the training;

(C) Provide fiscal management and technical assistance to regional training staff established under section 5103.41 of the Revised Code;

(D) Cooperate with the regional training staff to schedule sessions for the training, provide notices of the training sessions, and provide training materials for the sessions;

(E) Employ and compensate instructors for the training;

(F) Create individual training needs assessments for use pursuant to sections 5153.125 and 5153.126 of the Revised Code;

(G) Provide staff for the Ohio child welfare training program steering committee established under section 5103.39 of the Revised Code;

(H) Conduct any other activities necessary for the development, implementation, and management of the program as specified in the contract;

(I) Identify the competencies needed to do the jobs that the training is for so that the training helps the development of those competencies;

(J) Ensure that the training provides the knowledge, skill, and ability needed to do the jobs that the training is for.

Last updated October 10, 2023 at 1:34 PM

Section 5103.39 | Training program steering committee.
 

The director of job and family services shall establish the Ohio child welfare training program steering committee. Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not apply to the committee.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 10:45 AM

Section 5103.391 | Appointment of members.
 

The director of job and family services shall appoint all of the following to serve on the Ohio child welfare training program steering committee:

(A) Employees of the department of job and family services;

(B) One representative of each of the regional training centers established under section 5103.41 of the Revised Code;

(C) One representative of a statewide organization that represents the interests of public children services agencies;

(D) One representative of the Ohio child welfare training program coordinator;

(E) Two current foster caregivers certified by the department of job and family services under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code;

(F) Employees of public children services agencies.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 10:48 AM

Section 5103.40 | Ohio child welfare program steering committee.
 

The Ohio child welfare training program steering committee shall do all of the following:

(A) Following procedures the committee shall establish, adopt, amend, and rescind by-laws as necessary regarding the committee's governance, frequency of meetings, and other matters concerning the committee's operation;

(B) Conduct strategic planning activities regarding the Ohio child welfare training program;

(C) Provide the department of job and family services and Ohio child welfare training program coordinator recommendations regarding the program's operation;

(D) After reviewing individual training needs assessments completed under sections 5153.125 and 5153.126 of the Revised Code, consult with the Ohio child welfare training program coordinator on the design and content of the training that the program provides pursuant to divisions (D) and (E) of section 5103.30 of the Revised Code;

(E) Review curricula created for the training provided under section 5103.30 of the Revised Code;

(F) Provide the department recommendations regarding the curricula reviewed under division (E) of this section as the committee determines necessary for the training to be relevant to the needs of the child welfare field;

(G) Evaluate the training and provide the department recommendations as the committee determines necessary for the training to be able to enable all of the following:

(1) Assessors to satisfy the training requirement of section 3107.014 of the Revised Code;

(2) Prospective foster caregivers and foster caregivers to satisfy the preplacement and continuing training requirements of sections 5103.031, 5103.032, and 5103.033 of the Revised Code;

(3) PCSA caseworkers to satisfy the training requirements of section 5153.122 of the Revised Code;

(4) PCSA caseworker supervisors to satisfy the training requirements of section 5153.123 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 10:50 AM

Section 5103.41 | Designating training regions.
 

The department of job and family services, in consultation with the Ohio child welfare training program steering committee, shall designate training regions in the state. The department, at times it selects, shall review the composition of the training regions. The committee, at times it selects, shall also review the training regions' composition and provide the department recommendations on changes. The department may change the composition of the training regions as the department considers necessary.

The department may make a grant to a public children services agency that establishes and maintains a regional training center under this section for the purpose of wholly or partially subsidizing the operation of the center. The department shall specify in the grant all of the center's duties, including the duties specified in section 5103.42 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 9:22 AM

Section 5103.42 | [Former R.C. 5103.422, amended and renumbered by H.B. 33, 135th General Assembly, effective 10/3/2023] Regional training staff responsibilities.
 

A regional training staff's responsibilities shall include all of the following:

(A) Securing facilities suitable for conducting the training provided under section 5103.30 of the Revised Code;

(B) Providing administrative services and paying all administrative costs related to the conduct of the training;

(C) Maintaining a database of the data contained in the individual training needs assessments for each PCSA caseworker and PCSA caseworker supervisor employed by a public children services agency located in the training region;

(D) Analyzing training needs of PCSA caseworkers and PCSA caseworker supervisors employed by a public children services agency and other training populations described in section 5103.30 of the Revised Code and located in the training region;

(E) Coordinating the training for the region with the Ohio child welfare training program coordinator.

Last updated October 12, 2023 at 12:03 PM

Section 5103.50 | License for private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp.
 

(A) As used in sections 5103.50 to 5103.55 of the Revised Code, "private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp" has the same meaning as in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement standards set forth in division (D) of this section and section 5103.54 of the Revised Code that are substantially similar, as determined by the director, to other similarly situated providers of residential care to children.

(C) The director of job and family services shall issue a license to a private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp that submits an application to the director, on a form prescribed by the director, that indicates to the director's satisfaction that the camp meets the standards set forth in rules adopted under division (B) of this section.

(D) In accordance with rules adopted by the director under division (B) of this section, the camp shall develop and implement written policies that establish all of the following:

(1) Standards for hiring, training, and supervising staff;

(2) Standards for behavioral intervention, including standards prohibiting the use of prone restraint and governing the use of other restraints or isolation;

(3) Standards for recordkeeping, including specifying information that must be included in each child's record, who may access records, confidentiality, maintenance, security, and disposal of records;

(4) A procedure for handling complaints about the camp from the children attending the camp, their families, staff, and the public;

(5) Standards for emergency and disaster preparedness, including procedures for emergency evacuation and standards requiring that a method of emergency communication be accessible at all times;

(6) Standards that ensure the protection of children's civil rights;

(7) Standards for the admission and discharge of children attending the camp, including standards for emergency discharge;

(8) Standards for the supervision of children, including minimum staff to child ratios;

(9) Standards for ensuring proper medical care, including administration of medications;

(10) Standards for proper notification of critical incidents;

(11) Standards regarding the health and safety of residents, including proper health department approvals, fire inspections, and food service licenses;

(12) Standards for ensuring the reporting requirements under section 2151.421 of the Revised Code are met.

(E) The camp shall ensure that no child resides at the camp for more than twelve consecutive months, unless the camp has completed a full evaluation that determines the child is not ready for reunification with the child's family or guardian. Such evaluation shall include any outside professional determined to be necessary by the director of job and family services. This evaluation shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted by the director.

(F) The camp shall cooperate with any request from the director for an inspection or for access to records or written policies of the camp.

(G) The camps shall ensure that no child is left without supervision of camp staff at any time.

(H) The camp shall ensure that if there is a weather emergency or warning issued by the national weather service in the camp's geographic area, the children will be moved to a safe structure guarded from the weather event.

(I) The camp shall ensure that all sharp tools used in the camp, including axes and knives, are locked unless in use by camp staff or otherwise under camp staff supervision.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 10:59 AM

Section 5103.52 | Inspection.
 

(A) The director of job and family services may inspect a private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp at any time.

(B) The director may request access to the camp's records or to the written policies adopted by the camp pursuant to section 5103.50 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:35 PM

Section 5103.53 | Injunctive relief.
 

A private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp shall not operate without a license issued under section 5103.50 of the Revised Code. If the director of job and family services determines that a camp is operating without a license, the director may petition the court of common pleas in the county in which the camp is located for an order enjoining its operation. The court shall grant injunctive relief upon a showing that the camp is operating without a license.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:34 PM

Section 5103.54 | Rules.
 

(A) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to establish the following:

(1) Policies and procedures for enforcing the minimum standards of operation for private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camps;

(2) Procedures the director shall follow if the director determines that conditions at a camp pose imminent risk to the life, health, or safety of one or more children at a camp.

(B) Rules adopted under this section shall be substantially similar, as determined by the director, to rules applicable to other residential care providers to children.

(C) The director may issue, deny, or revoke a license according to procedures set forth in rules adopted under this section or section 5103.50 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 11:08 AM

Section 5103.55 | Compulsory school attendance.
 

A parent of a child attending a private, nonprofit therapeutic wilderness camp is not relieved of the parent's obligations regarding compulsory school attendance pursuant to section 3321.04 or 3321.042 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 22, 2023 at 4:20 PM

Section 5103.57 | Professional treatment staff definitions.
 

As used in sections 5103.58 and 5103.59 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Professional treatment staff" means a specialized foster home program agency employee or contractor with responsibility for any of the following:

(1) Providing rehabilitative services to a child placed in a specialized foster home program or to the child's family;

(2) Conducting home studies as an assessor for specialized foster homes;

(3) Providing clinical direction to specialized foster caregivers;

(4) Supervision of treatment team leaders.

(B) "Specialized foster home" has the same meaning as in section 5103.02 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 20, 2022 at 5:24 PM

Section 5103.58 | Professional treatment staff requirements and training.
 

(A) Professional treatment staff employed by a public children services agency who are not subject to the licensing requirements of Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code shall meet the requirements of sections 5153.112 and 5153.122 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Professional treatment staff employed by a private child placing agency or private noncustodial agency who are not subject to the licensing requirements of Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code shall meet the requirements of:

(a) Section 5153.112 of the Revised Code; and

(b) Section 5153.122 of the Revised Code, except that, with respect to the training requirements during the first year of continuous employment, staff shall be required to have training only in the courses described in divisions (A), (B), (C), (G), (H), (J), and (L) of that section and only for the number of hours needed to complete those courses.

(2) Subject to divisions (B)(3) and (4) of this section, the training required under division (B)(1) of this section may be offered by a private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or qualified nonprofit organization.

(3) Prior to the department of job and family services establishing a training program under section 5103.59 of the Revised Code, training that meets the requirements described in division (B)(1) of this section may be offered only upon approval by the department. The department shall approve or disapprove a program not later than sixty days after the program is submitted for approval.

(4) A private child placing agency, private noncustodial agency, or qualified nonprofit organization shall cease to provide a training program approved under division (B)(3) of this section once the department establishes a training program described in section 5103.59 of the Revised Code, after which all training shall be provided by the department only.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 11:09 AM

Section 5103.59 | Professional treatment staff training program.
 

The department of job and family services shall work with private child placing agencies and private noncustodial agencies to establish a comprehensive, competency-based professional treatment staff training program for employees of private child placing agencies and private noncustodial agencies that meets the requirements of division (B)(1) of section 5103.58 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:29 PM

Section 5103.60 | Residential infant care center definitions.
 

As used in sections 5103.602 to 5103.6018 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Infant" means a child who is less than one year of age.

(B) "Residential infant care center" means a facility that has as its primary purpose the provision of residential services for infants affected by substance use and the preservation of families through infant diversion practices and programs.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:10 PM

Section 5103.602 | Application for residential infant care center certification.
 

(A) A person seeking to operate a residential infant care center after the effective date of this section shall apply to the director of job and family services to obtain a certificate for the facility.

(B) A person who, on the effective date of this section, is operating a children's crisis care facility that has as its primary purpose the provision of residential services for infants affected by substance use and the preservation of families through infant diversion practices and programs shall be deemed a residential infant care center by the director if the center is in compliance with the requirements and rules described under division (B) of section 5103.603 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:28 PM

Section 5103.603 | Certification of residential infant care center.
 

The director of job and family services shall issue a certificate to a person to operate a residential infant care center as follows:

(A) Pursuant to division (A) of section 5103.602 of the Revised Code if the center complies with all of the requirements under sections 5103.608 to 5103.6012 of the Revised Code and, if applicable, all of the rules adopted under section 5103.6018 of the Revised Code;

(B)(1) Pursuant to division (B) of section 5103.602 of the Revised Code if the center is in compliance with all of the requirements under sections 5103.608 to 5103.6012 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under division (H) of section 5103.13 of the Revised Code, except the rules described in division (B) of section 5103.6011 of the Revised Code, on the effective date of this section.

(2) If the director of job and family services adopts rules under section 5103.6018 of the Revised Code, a center issued a certificate under division (B)(1) of this section shall comply with those rules rather than the rules adopted under division (H) of section 5103.13 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:27 PM

Section 5103.608 | Infant eligibility for residential infant care center placement.
 

An infant is eligible to be placed in a residential infant care center if one of the following applies:

(A) The infant was born substance exposed and requires additional care.

(B) The infant's parent or caretaker requires additional education and support services regarding care for the infant.

(C) A public children services agency or private child placing agency requires additional time to determine placement of the infant.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:12 PM

Section 5103.609 | Placement in residential infant care center for up to 90 days.
 

(A) A residential infant care center may provide residential care for up to ninety consecutive days to an infant placed by any of the following with legal custody of the infant:

(1) A parent, guardian, or legal custodian;

(2) A public children services agency;

(3) A private child placing agency.

(B) As used in this section, "legal custody" has the same meaning as in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:30 PM

Section 5103.6010 | Residential infant care center operational requirements.
 

A residential infant care center shall do the following:

(A) If using medication to treat infants, hold a terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license issued by the state board of pharmacy under section 4729.54 of the Revised Code.

(B) Comply, except as otherwise provided in this section and section 5103.6011 of the Revised Code, with all requirements under rule 5101:2-9-02 of the Administrative Code;

(C) Develop a plan of safe care in accordance with the "Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016," Pub. L. No. 114-198, for an infant born substance exposed as follows:

(1) Assist with the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the infant and affected family or caregiver;

(2) Develop and implement a program to monitor, support, and connect affected families or caregivers through the provision of and referral to appropriate services for the infant and affected family or caregiver.

(D) Develop and implement a program for parents and caregivers that, either individually or in a group setting, teaches parenting skills, bonding, and caring for the infant's special needs.

(E) Require both of the following:

(1) Child-care staff, volunteers, and interns in positions responsible for the daily direct care or supervision of children to be at least eighteen years old and have a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalence;

(2) Volunteers and interns who are under twenty-one years of age to be supervised.

(F) Request a criminal records check with respect to volunteers and interns in accordance with section 2151.86 of the Revised Code;

(G) Employ registered nurses, patient care assistants, or licensed professional nurses to meet required child-to-staff ratios;

(H) Require the center's peer supporter, family advocate, licensed social worker, licensed independent social worker, licensed professional counselor, or licensed professional clinical counselor to do the following:

(1) Provide wraparound services to affected family and caregivers;

(2) Coordinate and cooperate with any transferring hospital, public children services agency, and private child placing agency;

(3) Refer affected families or caregivers to appropriate community agencies and services for support and aftercare;

(4) Follow up with affected families and caregivers following the infant's discharge.

(I)(1) Encourage employee-supervised dyad care and permit one of the infant's parents or caregivers to room-in with the infant for bonding and education;

(2) Provide the following for dyad care and rooming-in:

(a) A single bed and all necessary bed sheets, pillow cases, pillows, and blankets;

(b) All meals and snacks, which shall be provided in a designated family kitchen area if the center has such an area;

(c) A minimum of one private shower and toilet for the use of the parents or caregivers who are rooming-in.

(3) Notify the parent or caregiver that the center's rules and policies shall be followed or rooming-in may be restricted or canceled.

(J) Have one bathing room for every six infants that includes a minimum of one hip level bathtub with hot and cold water, one changing station, and a door with a full-length glass window for safety and observation;

(K) Meet the child-to-staff ratio of at least one awake child-care staff on duty at all times for every five infants;

(L) Use cribs and other infant sleep products that meet the United States consumer product safety commission's safety standards for safe sleep;

(M) Follow the department of health's safe sleep education program recommendations established under section 3701.66 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:25 PM

Section 5103.6011 | Residential infant care center compliance exclusions.
 

(A) A residential infant care center shall not be required to do the following:

(1) Provide toilets or potty chairs for infants.

(2) Comply with the following rules:

(a) Paragraph (E) of rule 5101:2-5-09 of the Administrative Code.

(b) Paragraphs (N) and (P) to (R) of rule 5101:2-9-03 of the Administrative Code.

(c) Rule 5101:2-9-19 of the Administrative Code.

(d) Paragraphs (A) to (H) of rule 5101:2-9-20 of the Administrative Code.

(e) Rules 5101:2-9-21 and 5101:2-9-22 of the Administrative Code.

(f) Paragraphs (D) to (F) of rule 5101:2-9-26 of the Administrative Code.

(g) Paragraphs (B), (D), (F), (G), (J), (K), (M) to (Q), and (S) of rule 5101:2-9-28 of the Administrative Code.

(h) Rules 5101:2-9-29, 5101:2-9-38, and 5101:2-9-40 of the Administrative Code.

(3) Require registered nurses and licensed professional nurses employed by the center to comply with the requirements under paragraph (M)(3) of rule 5101:2-9-02 and paragraphs (J) to (L) of rule 5101:2-9-03 of the Administrative Code.

(B) The provisions of this section do not apply on and after the date the department of job and family services adopts rules regarding certification under section 5103.6018 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:14 PM

Section 5103.6012 | Residential infant care center child-to-staff ratios.
 

A residential infant care center shall not count volunteers or interns to meet child-to-staff ratios, except for in emergency situations, including an extremely ill staff member.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:31 PM

Section 5103.6015 | Federal grant application for residential infant care centers.
 

The department of job and family services may apply to the United States secretary of health and human services for a federal grant under the "Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act," 42 U.S.C. 5116, and the "Family First Prevention Services Act," 42 U.S.C. 50711, 50723, and 50741 to assist residential infant care centers certified under section 5103.603 of the Revised Code in providing temporary residential and other care to infants.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:15 PM

Section 5103.6016 | [Former R.C. 5103.132, amended and renumbered by H.B. 265, 134th General Assembly, effective 6/13/2022] Firearms on grounds of residential infant care center.
 

(A) As used in this section, "firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(B) A residential infant care center that regularly maintains on its premises schedule II controlled substances, as defined in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code, may do both of the following:

(1) Maintain firearms at the facility;

(2) Permit security personnel to bear firearms while on the grounds of the facility.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 5:18 PM

Section 5103.6017 | Suspension or revocation of residential infant care center certification.
 

The director of job and family services may suspend or revoke a residential infant care center's certificate pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if the center violates or fails to comply with any of the requirements under sections 5103.608 to 5103.6012 of the Revised Code and, as applicable, the rules adopted under section 5103.6018 of the Revised Code or division (H) of section 5103.13 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Section 5103.6018 | Residential infant care facility certification rules.
 

The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the certification of residential infant care centers.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Section 5103.61 | Family preservation center definition.
 

As used in sections 5103.61 to 5103.617 of the Revised Code, "family preservation center" means a certified children's crisis care facility or residential infant care center that has as its primary purpose the preservation of families.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:43 PM

Section 5103.611 | Family preservation center certification application.
 

A person who holds an active license to operate a children's crisis care facility under section 5103.13 of the Revised Code or a residential infant care center under section 5103.602 of the Revised Code may apply to the director of job and family services to obtain a certificate as a family preservation center under this section.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:07 PM

Section 5103.612 | Certification of family preservation center; waiver prohibited.
 

(A) The director of job and family services shall certify the person's family preservation center if the center complies with all of the requirements imposed under section 5103.614 of the Revised Code and all of the rules adopted under section 5103.617 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director shall not issue a waiver to a person of compliance with any of the requirements imposed under this section or any of the rules adopted under section 5103.617 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:08 PM

Section 5103.614 | Family preservation center operational requirements.
 

A certified family preservation center shall do the following:

(A) Obtain and maintain accreditation under the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations, or the council on accreditation for children and family services;

(B) Obtain and maintain certification by the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services;

(C) Provide family preservation programs informed by evidence-based or promising practices, including all of the following:

(1) Family case management;

(2) Service referral and linkage;

(3) Parent education;

(4) Trauma screening and healing-centered interventions.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 4:45 PM

Section 5103.615 | Suspension or revocation of family preservation center certification.
 

The director of job and family services may suspend or revoke a family preservation center's certificate pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if the center violates or fails to comply with section 5103.614 of the Revised Code or any of the rules adopted under section 5103.617 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:10 PM

Section 5103.617 | Family preservation center certification rules.
 

Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, the director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the certification of family preservation centers.

Last updated September 29, 2023 at 12:12 PM

Section 5103.99 | Penalty.
 

(A) Whoever violates section 5103.03 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.

(B) Whoever violates section 5103.15, 5103.16, or 5103.17 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.