(A) The governor shall appoint from among the members of the industrial commission the chairperson of the industrial commission. The chairperson shall serve as chairperson at the pleasure of the governor. The chairperson is the head of the commission and its chief executive officer.

(B) The chairperson shall appoint, after consultation with other commission members and obtaining the approval of at least one other commission member, an executive director of the commission. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the chairperson. The executive director, under the direction of the chairperson, shall perform all of the following duties:

(1) Act as chief administrative officer for the commission;

(2) Ensure that all commission personnel follow the rules of the commission;

(3) Ensure that all orders, awards, and determinations are properly heard and signed, prior to attesting to the documents;

(4) Coordinate, to the fullest extent possible, commission activities with the bureau of workers' compensation activities;

(5) Do all things necessary for the efficient and effective implementation of the duties of the commission.

The responsibilities assigned to the executive director of the commission do not relieve the chairperson from final responsibility for the proper performance of the acts specified in this division.

(C) The chairperson shall do all of the following:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, employ, promote, supervise, remove, and establish the compensation of all employees as needed in connection with the performance of the commission's duties under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code and may assign to them their duties to the extent necessary to achieve the most efficient performance of its functions, and to that end may establish, change, or abolish positions, and assign and reassign duties and responsibilities of every employee of the commission. The civil service status of any person employed by the commission prior to November 3, 1989, is not affected by this section. Personnel employed by the bureau or the commission who are subject to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code shall retain all of their rights and benefits conferred pursuant to that chapter as it presently exists or is hereafter amended and nothing in this chapter or Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code shall be construed as eliminating or interfering with Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code or the rights and benefits conferred under that chapter to public employees or to any bargaining unit.

(2) Hire district and staff hearing officers after consultation with other commission members and obtaining the approval of at least one other commission member;

(3) Fire staff and district hearing officers when the chairperson finds appropriate after obtaining the approval of at least one other commission member;

(4) Maintain the office for the commission in Columbus;

(5) To the maximum extent possible, use electronic data processing equipment for the issuance of orders immediately following a hearing, scheduling of hearings and medical examinations, tracking of claims, retrieval of information, and any other matter within the commission's jurisdiction, and shall provide and input information into the electronic data processing equipment as necessary to effect the success of the claims tracking system established pursuant to division (B)(14) of section 4121.121 of the Revised Code;

(6) Exercise all administrative and nonadjudicatory powers and duties conferred upon the commission by Chapters 4121., 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code;

(7) Approve all contracts for special services.

(D) The chairperson is responsible for all administrative matters and may secure for the commission facilities, equipment, and supplies necessary to house the commission, any employees, and files and records under the commission's control and to discharge any duty imposed upon the commission by law, the expense thereof to be audited and paid in the same manner as other state expenses. For that purpose, the chairperson, separately from the budget prepared by the administrator of workers' compensation, shall prepare and submit to the office of budget and management a budget for each biennium according to sections 101.532 and 107.03 of the Revised Code. The budget submitted shall cover the costs of the commission and staff and district hearing officers in the discharge of any duty imposed upon the chairperson, the commission, and hearing officers by law.

(E) A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum to transact business. No vacancy impairs the rights of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the commission, so long as a majority remains. Any investigation, inquiry, or hearing that the commission may hold or undertake may be held or undertaken by or before any one member of the commission, or before one of the deputies of the commission, except as otherwise provided in this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. Every order made by a member, or by a deputy, when approved and confirmed by a majority of the members, and so shown on its record of proceedings, is the order of the commission. The commission may hold sessions at any place within the state. The commission is responsible for all of the following:

(1) Establishing the overall adjudicatory policy and management of the commission under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code, except for those administrative matters within the jurisdiction of the chairperson, bureau of workers' compensation, and the administrator of workers' compensation under those chapters;

(2) Hearing appeals and reconsiderations under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code;

(3) Engaging in rulemaking where required by this chapter or Chapter 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 6/30/2011.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §1, eff. 6/30/2011.

Effective Date: 03-09-1999; 2008 HB79 01-06-2009