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As Re-Referred by the House Rules and Reference Committee
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
Sub. H. B. No. 98
2025-2026
Representatives Santucci, Williams
Cosponsors: Representatives
Fischer, John, Klopfenstein, Claggett, Mullins, Thomas, D., Workman,
Daniels
To
enact section 3301.25 of the Revised Code
to
establish the Community Connectors Workforce Program and to make an
appropriation.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 3301.25 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3301.25.
(A)
The department of education and workforce shall establish the
community connectors workforce program to support connecting students
to jobs, internships, and career professionals in their communities.
(B)(1)
The department shall oversee the program, and each educational
service center shall administer the program for the school districts
that have entered into a contract with the educational service center
under division (B) of section 3313.843 of the Revised Code. Each
educational service center shall, to the extent that funds are
appropriated by the general assembly to do so, employ or contract for
services with at least one, but not more than three, individuals to
work as directors in high schools in the districts that have entered
into a contract with the educational service center under division
(B) of section 3313.843 of the Revised Code. Each educational service
center shall determine the number of directors it employs or
contracts with under this section.
(2)
Educational service centers shall determine any eligibility or
application requirements for the directors, however the director
shall have experience in job placement, school counseling, or primary
and secondary education.
(C)
Directors identified under division (B) of this section shall do all
of the following:
(1)
Collaborate with local OhioMeansJobs centers and other community
partners, as identified by the director, to identify available jobs,
apprenticeships, and internships in the community, and engage
students in career mentoring with community members;
(2)
Determine the number of students that may participate in the program
at the district or school;
(3)
Create an application and procedures to apply for the program and, as
a part of the application procedures, interview students and
administer an aptitude test, as selected by the director, to assess
their professional skills to determine a student's eligibility and
preparedness to participate in the program;
(4)
Consider a student's graduation plan developed under section 3313.617
of the Revised Code when placing that student in a job,
apprenticeship, or internship through the program;
(5)
Offer dedicated and regular classroom instruction to the maximum
number of students possible in soft skills and professional skills
training, including problem-solving, time management, creative and
critical thinking, communication and civility, and ethics. If a
district or school currently offers similar instruction the director
shall collaborate with those instructors, other appropriate school
officials that have commensurate experience, and professionals who
support the development of career and life pathways in the school.
Students may use instruction under division (B)(4) of this section to
qualify for the OhioMeansJobs-readiness seal established under
section 3313.6112 of the Revised Code.
(6)
Report to the educational service center that employs or contracts
with the director and to the department of education and workforce
all of the following:
(a)
The number of students participating in the program;
(b)
The number of students who are placed in jobs, apprenticeships, or
internships through the program;
(c)
The number of students who receive soft skills and professional
skills training offered by the director.
(D)
Any business or organization that employs a student through the
program shall comply with the applicable minor labor laws prescribed
under section 4109.02 of the Revised Code.
Section
2.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.
Section
3.
1
2
3
4
5
A
EDU
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
B
General
Revenue Fund
C
GRF
200556
Community
Connectors Workforce Program
$8,000,000
$8,000,000
D
TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund
$8,000,000
$8,000,000
E
TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS
$8,000,000
$8,000,000
COMMUNITY
CONNECTORS
The
foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors Workforce
Program, shall be used for the Community Connectors Workforce Program
created in section 3301.25 of the Revised Code.
Of
the foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors
Workforce Program, $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be allocated
equally among educational service centers.
Of
the foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors
Workforce Program, $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be allocated
to educational service centers in proportion to the number of
students in each center's student count calculated under division
(G)(1) of section 3313.843 of the Revised Code.
Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of
the 136th General Assembly.