Section 122.68. Powers and duties

The community services division shall:

(A) Administer all federal funds appropriated to the state from the "Community Services Block Grant Act," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C.A. 9901, and comply with requirements imposed by that act in its application for, and administration of, the funds;

(B) Designate community action agencies to receive community services block grant funds;

(C)

(1) Subject to division (C)(2) of this section, disburse at least ninety-one per cent of the funds received in the state from the "Community Services Block Grant Act" to community action agencies that comply with the requirements of section 122.69 of the Revised Code and migrant and seasonal farm worker organizations that are not designated community action agencies but which provide the services described in division (B)(1) of section 122.69 of the Revised Code;

(2) Disburse at least four and one-half per cent of the funds received in the state from the "Community Services Block Grant Act" to one or more nonprofit organizations to which both of the following apply:

(a) The organization or organizations were incorporated under the laws of this state before January 1, 2015.

(b) The primary purpose of the organization or organizations is to provide training and technical assistance to community action agencies that comply with the requirements of section 122.69 of the Revised Code.

(D) Provide technical assistance to community action agencies to improve program planning, development, and administration;

(E) Conduct yearly performance assessments, according to criteria determined by development services agency rule, to determine whether community action agencies are in compliance with section 122.69 of the Revised Code;

(F) Annually prepare and submit to the United States secretary of health and human services, the governor, the president of the Ohio senate, and the speaker of the Ohio house of representatives, a comprehensive report that includes:

(1) Certification that all community action agencies designated to receive funds from the "Community Services Block Grant Act" are in compliance with section 122.69 of the Revised Code;

(2) A program plan for the next federal fiscal year that has been made available for public inspection and that details how community services block grant funds will be disbursed and used during that fiscal year;

(3) Information detailing how funds were expended for the current fiscal year;

(4) An audit of community services block grant expenditures for the preceding federal fiscal year that is conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by an independent auditing firm that has no connection with any community action agency receiving community services block grant funds or with any employee of the division.

(G) Serve as a statewide advocate for social and economic opportunities for low-income persons.

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

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

Effective Date: 10-08-1984