Section 329.14. Eligibility to participate in individual development account program

(A) An individual whose household income does not exceed two hundred per cent of the federal poverty line is eligible to participate in an individual development account program established by the county department of job and family services of the county in which the individual resides. An eligible individual seeking to be a participant in the program shall enter into an agreement with the fiduciary organization administering the program. The agreement shall specify the terms and conditions of uses of funds deposited, financial documentation required to be maintained by the participant, expectations and responsibilities of the participant, and services to be provided by the fiduciary organization.

(B) A participant may deposit earned income, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 911(d)(2), as amended, into the account. The fiduciary organization may deposit into the account an amount not exceeding four times the amount deposited by the participant except that a fiduciary organization may not, pursuant to an agreement with an employer, deposit an amount into an account held by a participant who is employed by the employer. An account may have no more than ten thousand dollars in it at any time.

(C) Notwithstanding eligibility requirements established in or pursuant to Chapter 5107. or 5108. of the Revised Code, to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations, money in an individual development account, including interest, is exempt from consideration in determining whether the participant or a member of the participant's assistance group is eligible for assistance under Chapter 5107. or 5108. of the Revised Code and the amount of assistance the participant or assistance group is eligible to receive.

(D)

(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, an individual development account program participant may use money in the account only for the following purposes:

(a) Postsecondary educational expenses paid directly from the account to an eligible education institution or vendor;

(b) Qualified acquisition expenses of a principal residence, as defined in 26 U.S.C. 1034, as amended, paid directly from the account to the person or government entity to which the expenses are due;

(c) Qualified business capitalization expenses made in accordance with a qualified business plan that has been approved by a financial institution or by a nonprofit microenterprise program having demonstrated business expertise and paid directly from the account to the person to whom the expenses are due.

(2) A fiduciary organization shall permit a participant to withdraw money deposited by the participant if it is needed to deal with a personal emergency of the participant or a member of the participant's family or household. Withdrawal shall result in the loss of any matching funds in an amount equal to the amount of the withdrawal.

(3) Regardless of the reason for the withdrawal, a withdrawal from an individual development account may be made only with the approval of the fiduciary organization.

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

Effective Date: 07-01-2000; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007