(A) There is hereby created the office of enterprise development advisory board to advise and assist the department of rehabilitation and correction with the creation of training programs and jobs for inmates and releasees through partnerships with private sector businesses. The board shall consist of at least five appointed members and the staff representative assigned by the correctional institution inspection committee, who shall serve as an ex officio member. Each member shall have experience in labor relations, marketing, business management, or business. The members and chairperson shall be appointed by the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(B) Each member of the advisory board shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties of the board. Members of the board who are state employees shall be reimbursed for expenses pursuant to travel rules promulgated by the office of budget and management.

(C) The advisory board shall adopt procedures for the conduct of the board's meetings. The board shall meet at least once every quarter, and otherwise shall meet at the call of the chairperson or the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction. Sixty per cent of the members shall constitute a quorum. No transaction of the board's business shall be taken without the concurrence of a quorum of the members. The board may have committees with persons who are not members of the board but whose experience and expertise is relevant and useful to the work of the committee.

(D) The advisory board shall have the following duties:

(1) Solicit business proposals offering job training, apprenticeship, education programs, and employment opportunities for inmates , releasees, and Ohio penal industries;

(2) Provide information and input to the office of enterprise development to support the job training and employment program of inmates and releasees and any additional, related duties as requested by the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(3) Recommend to the office of enterprise development any legislation, administrative rule, or department policy change that the board believes is necessary to implement the department's program;

(4) Promote public awareness of the office of enterprise development and the office's employment program;

(5) Familiarize itself and the public with avenues to access the office of enterprise development on employment program concerns;

(6) Advocate for the needs and concerns of the office of enterprise development in local communities, counties, and the state;

(7) Play an active role in the office of enterprise development's efforts to reduce recidivism in the state by doing all of the following:

(a) Providing input and making recommendations for the office's consideration in monitoring employment program compliance and effectiveness;

(b) Making suggestions on the appropriate priorities for the office's grant award criteria;

(c) Being a liaison between the office and constituents of the board's members;

(d) Working to develop constituent groups interested in employment program issues;

(8) Aid in the employment program development process by playing a leadership role in professional associations by discussing employment program issues.

(E) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall initially screen each proposal obtained under division (D)(1) of this section to ensure that the proposal is a viable venture to pursue. If the department determines that a proposal is a viable venture to pursue, the department shall submit the proposal to the board for objective review against established guidelines. The board shall determine whether to recommend the implementation of the program to the department.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 390, §101.01, eff. 9/28/2016.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 12-02-1996 .

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .