The director of development may found an employment opportunity program that encourages employers to employ individuals who are members of significantly disadvantaged groups. If the director intends to found such an employment opportunity program, the director shall adopt, and thereafter may amend or rescind, rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to found, and to operate, maintain, and improve, the program. In the rules, the director shall:

(A) Construct, and, as changing circumstances indicate, re-construct, procedures according to which significantly disadvantaged groups are identified as such, an individual is identified as being a member of a significantly disadvantaged group, and an employer is identified as being a potential employer of an individual who is a member of a significantly disadvantaged group;

(B) Describe, and, as experience indicates, re-describe, the kinds of evidence that shall be considered to identify significantly disadvantaged groups, the kinds of evidence an individual shall offer to prove that the individual is a member of a significantly disadvantaged group, and the kinds of evidence an employer shall offer to prove that the employer is a potential employer of an individual who is a member of a significantly disadvantaged group;

(C) Specify, and, as experience indicates, re-specify, strategies and tactics for connecting individuals who are members of significantly disadvantaged groups with potential employers of members of significantly disadvantaged groups; and

(D) Construct, describe, specify, define, and prescribe any other thing that is necessary and proper for the founding, and for the successful and efficient operation, maintenance, and improvement, of the employment opportunity program.

In founding, and in operating, maintaining, and improving, the employment opportunity program under the rules, the director shall proceed so that the resulting program functions as a coherent, efficient system for improving employment opportunities for significantly disadvantaged groups. Examples of significantly disadvantaged groups include individuals who have not graduated from high school, individuals who have been convicted of a crime, individuals who are disabled, and individuals who are chronically unemployed (usually for more than eighteen months).

Added by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009. .