In accordance with a federal waiver granted by the United States secretary of health and human services pursuant to a request made under former section 5101.09 of the Revised Code, county departments of job and family services may establish and administer as a work activity for minor heads of households and adults participating in Ohio works first an education program under which the participant is enrolled full-time in post-secondary education leading to vocation at a state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.031 of the Revised Code; a private nonprofit college or university that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code, or is exempted by division (E) of section 1713.02 of the Revised Code from the requirement of a certificate; a school that holds a certificate of registration and program authorization issued by the state board of career colleges and schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code; a private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised Code; or a school that has entered into a contract with the county department of job and family services. The participant shall make reasonable efforts, as determined by the county department, to obtain a loan, scholarship, grant, or other assistance to pay for the tuition, including a federal Pell grant under 20 U.S.C.A. 1070a, an Ohio instructional grant under section 3333.12 of the Revised Code, and an Ohio college opportunity grant under section 3333.122 of the Revised Code. If the participant has made reasonable efforts but is unable to obtain sufficient assistance to pay the tuition the program may pay the tuition. On or after October 1, 1998, the county department may enter into a loan agreement with the participant to pay the tuition. The total period for which tuition is paid and loans made shall not exceed two years. If the participant, pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 5107.43 of the Revised Code, volunteers to participate in the education program for more hours each week than the participant is assigned to the program, the program may pay or the county department may loan the cost of the tuition for the additional voluntary hours as well as the cost of the tuition for the assigned number of hours. The participant may receive, for not more than three years, support services, including publicly funded child care under Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code and transportation, that the participant needs to participate in the program. To receive support services in the third year, the participant must be, as determined by the educational institution in which the participant is enrolled, in good standing with the institution.

A county department that provides loans under this section shall establish procedures governing loan application for and approval and administration of loans granted pursuant to this section.

Effective Date: 04-03-2003; 05-17-2005; 09-29-2005.